Opinion

The World Cup That Might Not Let You In

The 2026 World Cup is being marketed as a global festival, but entry to its primary host country is becoming more uncertain, more selective and more politicised. With tighter immigration scrutiny, volatile visa rules and growing unease among allies, fans are quietly beginning to question whether attending is realistic at all. Against that backdrop, talk of boycotts — once unthinkable — is no longer abstract. This article examines how access, not ideology, is driving the debate, and why FIFA’s insistence on neutrality now looks like evasion.

As the United States prepares to host the majority of matches at the 2026 World Cup, growing immigration barriers are forcing fans, federations and governments to confront an uncomfortable question: who is actually welcome to attend?

The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams and representing one of the largest global sporting events ever staged.