The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in one month’s time and anticipation is building in the football world but there are several issues, which have already made headlines, before the opening ceremony.
From ticket prices which dwarf every World Cup that has come before to political controversy, security issues, as well as a number of nations bidding to write their name into the history books, this summer’s tournament in America, Mexico and Canada has a great number of talking points before a single kick has been taken.
One of the major controversies which has developed surrounding the competition has been ticket prices, which have reached an all-time high. There are reports of the USA’s first game, against Paraguay, costing well over 1000 dollars, and seats for the final are thought to have reached thousands on some resale websites.
The high price for a seat at the games have even come in for criticism from former US President Donald Trump, who stated he would never pay that much to watch any game. Infantino however believes it is right that the price reflects the demands on North American soil.
Politics has also taken centre stage as a talking point before this World Cup, with many raising doubts as to whether Iran would actually play their matches in the USA after rising tensions but FIFA expect them to compete with full teams.
The security concerns have also hampered the competition’s progression; the perceived threat in Mexico and USA will deter many traveling supporters with visa regulations and fears about immigration raids impacting decisions to come and support teams.
But the introduction of the 48-team format has allowed many more teams to enter the fray with many a chance of writing themselves into the history books, with Cape Verde, Jordan, Uzbekistan and Curaçao all debuting at the World Cup.
The continued chances of the final World Cups for some of the world’s biggest legends, such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as up-and-coming star Lamine Yamal are also on the cards should they have a full pre-tournament conditioning.
