World Cup 2026: bans, politics and $10,000 tickets in the US

The FIFA World Cup begins on 11 June in the US, Canada and Mexico-the first time in history it will be held in three countries simultaneously. The tournament is shadowed by the hardening of US immigration policy, which prevents many fans from entering the country, and political tensions surrounding Iran's participation. Finals tickets cost up to $10,000.

Tomorrow, 11 June, the FIFA World Cup begins, hosted for the first time in history in three countries at once: the US, Canada and Mexico. Even before the opening whistle, the tournament has been dubbed one of the most politically charged World Cups in history.

US immigration restrictions hit fans

One of the main obstacles is the sharp tightening of US immigration policy. Many international fans and even members of some national squads have been held up by visa issues and cannot participate in the tournament. The situation is particularly acute for fans from countries with strained relations with the US.

The second major issue is Iran's participation in the World Cup. The US and Iran have been in a state of tension in recent months, making Iran's matches extremely charged, both politically and from a security perspective.

LGBTQ+ opposition and record ticket prices

Iran and Egypt have expressed opposition to the idea of a so-called "pride match", a proposal to hold a special match in support of the LGBTQ+ community. Both countries have made it clear that they do not wish to support or participate in such an event.

The economic side is also striking: final match tickets on the secondary market have risen to as much as $10,000 per ticket. Experts say this is one of the most expensive World Cup finals in history. Despite all the controversy, the tournament is expected to draw over one billion television viewers worldwide.