- October 7, 2025
- 7:20 pm
- World News
The world is preparing for a grand football event — the 2026 World Cup, which will be held for the first time in three countries: the USA, Canada, and Mexico. But behind the beautiful announcements lies a troubling reality: Washington’s domestic policy could spell disaster for the tournament, analyzes 24tv.ua, which promised to unite the planet.
Not long ago, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confidently stated that this World Cup would be a “showcase of America.” However, America today is not at all what he dreamed of.
Prices that shocked fans
The first tickets for the 2026 World Cup have become a subject of mass outrage.
Their cost has risen to unprecedented levels: from $560 to $2235 for the opening match and from $2030 to $6000 for the final. For comparison: in Qatar 2022, fans paid from $55 to $618.
FIFA introduced an additional 15% commission on ticket resales, which further increased fans’ irritation. On social media, thousands of messages with screenshots of prices and angry comments — fans say that sports have once again become hostages of politics and commerce.
Visa as a barrier
The next blow is visa chaos. Unlike Qatar, which introduced a simplified system for tournament guests in 2022, the USA has done nothing so far to ease entry for fans. Queues at embassies are growing, especially for fans from Africa, Asia, and South America.
Many risk simply not getting a visa in time for the tournament. The BBC notes: the situation is so alarming that even FIFA sponsors have expressed concern about the possible disruption of fan programs and tour packages.
Protests and anxiety in the streets
Donald Trump’s policy is causing internal tension. In several major cities where championship matches are planned, protests are erupting. Amid public unrest, the president ordered troops to be deployed to “maintain order.”
The decision resulted in a new wave of criticism: the global community is questioning how safe American cities will be in the summer of 2026. Trump himself stated that he is ready to “move matches from dangerous zones” to ensure the “tournament is held under the sign of safety.”
A world that loves football — but not politics
Football has always been a space of unity. But today it finds itself at the epicenter of political storms. The 2026 World Cup was supposed to be a symbol of openness and international cooperation, but instead, it risks becoming an arena for political games.
America, where football has long struggled for viewers’ attention, could have used this opportunity to show that sports can unite continents. But instead, the country once again demonstrates division.
Geopolitics in the stands
Paradoxically, even the structure of the tournament reflects the new world order: three countries, three different courses, and one common field where ideologies clash. For FIFA, this is a challenge — to maintain neutrality when millions of fans see politics and conflict behind the beautiful logos.
The closer the championship, the more obvious it becomes: this World Cup will be a test not only for football teams but also for democracy.
Conclusion
The USA, Canada, and Mexico promised to show the world a celebration of sports. But so far, fans are discussing not the team lineups, but ticket prices, visa issues, and military patrols in the streets.
The 2026 World Cup was supposed to be a celebration of unity. But it may turn out to be a mirror of the era — where even football cannot distract from politics.
And if the world truly “loves America,” as Infantino said, it now expects not rhetoric, but actions that will return the main thing to sports — human unity.
