Opinion: All the chaos around World Cup 2026

March 13, 2026 Aksel Kryhlmand

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to reshape international football. For the first time, 48 teams will participate, and the tournament will be hosted by three countries, Mexico, The United States and Canada.

The vision behind the event was clear, create an unprecedented football festival across North America. Yet even before the first whistle, the tournament is surrounded by growing concerns.

Security issues, political debates and geopolitical tensions are already influencing the narrative around the competition.

Growing security concerns

In Mexico, concerns about safety in several host cities have become a recurring topic. Although the country has hosted major sporting events before, certain regions continue to struggle with violence and organized crime.

Millions of fans are expected to travel to Mexico during the tournament, placing enormous pressure on authorities to guarantee safety and stability.

Critics argue that hosting the World Cup in areas with ongoing security challenges could become a reputational risk. If incidents occur during the tournament, the focus may quickly shift away from football and toward questions about whether the event was responsibly planned.

Political tensions rising

In The United States, the challenges appear more political than security related. Internal debates surrounding immigration enforcement, ICE and uneven investment across states have already sparked discussion about the country's priorities.

Some view the World Cup as an opportunity to showcase the country on the global stage. Others question whether political divisions and policy controversies will overshadow the tournament.

There is also concern that diplomatic tensions between The United States and certain nations could create complications around visas, travel and international participation. If political disputes escalate, the event could become another arena for global disagreements rather than a celebration of sport.

Because the United States will host the majority of matches, its immigration policies and political relationships with other countries may create challenges for players, officials, journalists, and fans who need to enter the country. If diplomatic relations between the U.S. and certain nations worsen, visa approvals could become more complicated or delayed, potentially preventing supporters or even team staff from attending the event.

In some cases, political conflicts could lead to travel restrictions or heightened security checks, making it difficult for people from specific countries to participate fully in the tournament. Beyond logistical issues, political tensions could also influence the atmosphere surrounding the World Cup.

Countries involved in disputes with the U.S. might view the tournament through a political lens, and the event could become a stage for protests, diplomatic disagreements, or symbolic political statements rather than purely a celebration of football. This would challenge FIFA’s goal of promoting unity and international cooperation through sport. If geopolitical conflicts escalate during the tournament period, the World Cup could risk being overshadowed by global political debates, shifting the focus away from the competition itself and toward international relations and diplomatic tensions.

Football meets geopolitics

Football organizations such as FIFA often promote the idea that sport should remain politically neutral and serve as a platform for unity, where nations can compete peacefully regardless of political disagreements. However, in practice this separation is extremely difficult to maintain. When a country is excluded from a tournament due to security concerns or diplomatic conflicts, it immediately raises questions about fairness, political influence, and the independence of sporting institutions.

In the case of Iran, the decision not to participate may be seen by some as necessary for safety reasons, but others may interpret it as a politically motivated exclusion linked to tensions between governments. This can create resentment among fans and officials, who may feel that political disputes are unfairly interfering with sporting opportunities.

Such situations can also increase diplomatic tensions between countries, as governments may criticize or challenge the decisions made by organizers or host nations. Furthermore, the absence of a national team from a major tournament reduces the inclusiveness and global representation that the World Cup is meant to promote.

Instead of uniting fans and nations through shared excitement for the game, the event risks becoming another arena where geopolitical rivalries are visible. Media coverage and public discussions may focus more on political controversies than on the matches themselves, shifting attention away from the athletes and the competition.

In this way, the intersection of football and geopolitics demonstrates how difficult it is for global sport to remain truly neutral, as political conflicts, security concerns, and diplomatic relationships inevitably influence who participates and how international tournaments are organized.

A fragile global showcase

For FIFA and the three host nations, the tournament represents both a historic opportunity and a major test. A successful event could demonstrate how sport still has the power to unite countries and cultures.

However, the growing list of concerns also reveals how fragile such ambitions can be. When politics, security and diplomacy become part of the story, football risks losing its central role.

If the challenges continue to grow in the months before kickoff, the 2026 World Cup may be remembered less for its historic expansion and more for the controversies surrounding it.

Growing security concerns

Political tensions rising

Football meets geopolitics

A fragile global showcase

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