World Cup nears kick off after pre-tournament turbulence

2026 World Cup Kicks Off Amid Protests, Visa Disputes, and Economic Hopes

The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially begins on Thursday, with co-host Mexico facing South Africa at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca. The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, features an expanded 48-team format and 104 matches over 39 days, culminating in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, according to multiple outlets including Africa News, Dawn, and RFI — English.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has touted the event as "the greatest show that the planet has ever seen," as reported by Buenos Aires Times. The tournament is projected to generate a record-breaking $13 billion in total revenue, a figure cited by both Buenos Aires Times and BBC — World.

However, the buildup has been marked by significant controversies. Protests in Mexico City by the teachers' union CNTE have disrupted traffic and threatened planned fan zones, with the union vowing to shut down roads around the Estadio Azteca, as noted by Africa News and The Hindu — World.

The U.S. immigration policies under President Donald Trump have drawn criticism, with reports of visa denials and heightened security checks affecting fans and teams. A Somali referee, Omar Artan, was denied entry to the U.S. after the State Department said he had "associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations," according to Al Jazeera and RFI — English. The Iranian football federation accused the U.S. of revoking its ticket allocation and refusing visas for support staff, as reported by Africa News.

Ticket prices have also sparked anger, with some tickets costing over $30,000, though Infantino defended the pricing, citing $60 entry tickets as the lowest among American sports, per Buenos Aires Times.

The political backdrop includes an ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, with BBC — World's Faisal Islam noting that the main host is at war with a participant, forcing Iran's team to commute in and out of the U.S. for matches. Additionally, the three co-hosts are renegotiating the USMCA trade agreement during the tournament, adding an economic dimension.

In a separate development, The Hindu — World reported that President Trump will not attend the U.S. opener against Paraguay on June 12, instead hosting the UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on his 80th birthday. The U.S. delegation will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, as confirmed by Andrew Giuliani, CEO of the World Cup task force.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo's participation marks their first World Cup in 50 years, with RFI — English highlighting their qualification journey through playoffs and a group-stage draw against Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.

As the tournament unfolds, the disparity between Infantino's optimism and the ground-level challenges of affordability, security, and politics will be a key narrative, as indicated by multiple sources.