World Cup 2026. which is held in United States of America, Canada and Mexico after the first week of the tournament, it showed many flaws and caused many controversies.
Large area, logistical problems, high prices, fan bans, visa problems, are just some of the problems that surfaced during the first week of the tournament in North America.
It is particularly symptomatic that the hosts did not adapt to the arrival of the biggest sporting event, which was the practice in the previous three tournaments, which were organized in significantly more complex circumstances.
The logistical nightmare of the World Cup
Although for the first time in history three countries appear as co-organizers of the World Cup, the overall impression is that it is still primarily an American World Cup. Namely, all the host cities, with the exception of Mexico City and Guadalajara, are geographically located along the American border. Due to the sheer size of America and the associated hosts, the journeys of individual national teams are extremely tiring and long, so between games they cover more than 2.000 kilometers. In this sense, Curaçao fared the worst, which will cover more than 10.000 kilometers during the championship. While the national teams still have a more privileged status when it comes to travel, the fans who came to follow their teams are in a much more difficult position. In addition to the fact that the prices of everything from tickets and accommodation to flights are extremely high, the connections between the cities where the matches are held are not the best, as extra lines are rarely added.
This logistical nightmare stands in sharp contrast to the tournament in Russia in 2018, which was also played on an extremely large surface, but was significantly more organized. Special free trains were organized from the cities to the cities where the next match of the national team was scheduled, and public transport was free in all cities where the matches were played. In order to prevent the arrival of hooligans, Russia introduced the FAN ID system, which all fans entering the stadiums had to have, and with which they could also use free transportation services. The FAN ID allowed visa-free entry into Russia, and this benefit was extended even after the World Cup in order to promote Russian tourism.
Photo: AP Photo/Natacha PisarenkoMatch Colombia - Uzbekistan
Border walls
The complete antithesis of the Russian visa relief are the administrative ramps and border problems that mark the current tournament. The most striking example of that rigidity was experienced by Somali judge Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the US at the Miami airport even though he had a diplomatic passport and a one-time US visa. Artan was supposed to represent Somalia at the World Cup, as the first referee from that country and as the best referee in Africa. However, he was sent back under the explanation that there is a "connection with suspected members of terrorist organizations". While Artane received a hero's welcome in Somalia, compensation for missing the World Cup will be refereeing the European Super Cup between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain.
The teams themselves faced administrative walls. Thus, the Ghana national team was damaged for not playing Thomas Partey in the first round against Panama. The party has been barred from entering Canada due to allegations of rape he allegedly committed while playing for Arsenal, a Commonwealth-wide charge.
Before the start of the championship, Uzbekistan was faced with a search for several hours. The Uzbekistan national team was subjected to rigorous controls with search dogs, which made coach Fabio Cannavaro extremely unhappy, pointing out that only his team underwent such treatment.
However, Iran is going through the biggest political and logistical torture at the World Cup. Due to the war in Iran, the national team was forced to move the camp during the championship to Mexico, more precisely to Tijuana, instead of Arizona where it was planned. Thus, the Iranians will have to travel almost 3.500 kilometers from Tijuana for the group stage match in Seattle against Egypt. In addition, Iranian fans are completely banned from entering the US. This principle of excluding fans was also applied to other countries under the guise of "migration risk", Haitian fans were banned from coming to the World Cup, and the same problem is faced by fans from Senegal and the Ivory Coast who have almost no chance of being at the World Cup, because tourist visas for them are mostly suspended.
Photo: AP Photo/Ashley LandisMatch Portugal - DR Congo
The host always adapted
Rigidity raises the question of the host's attitude towards the very spirit of the competition, since the previous three organizers of the World Cup were also shadowed by the shadow of big problems. Brazil was viewed as a security risk country, Russia as a dictatorship, while Qatar was a country where many human rights were violated. However, during the World Cup, all those hosts were ready for certain adjustments and compromises with their own legislation in order to meet the competition and the fans.
Back in 2003, Brazil passed a law banning alcohol in football stadiums, but due to the organization of the World Cup, the authorities there adopted a special law on the World Cup to allow the serving of alcohol during the tournament. This was supported by the pressure of FIFA, which had a sponsorship agreement with Budweiser. When it comes to security, Brazil has been pacifying the favelas for months before the start of the World Cup in order to ensure greater security for participants and fans. The army entered some favelas to quell criminal activities in those parts of the city, although critics of such moves said it was only pacification and beautification of Brazil in order to present itself in a better light to foreign guests.
Qatar was also forced to make similar concessions. As an Arab country, the consumption of alcohol is prohibited in Qatar, which caused a great controversy before the 2022 World Cup. Qatar initially allowed the consumption of alcohol during the championship, but immediately before the start of the competition, it reinstated the ban. A compromise was found in that alcohol was available in fan zones, VIP boxes and hotels. Also, during the championship, Qatar relaxed certain rules for foreign guests in fan zones, especially in relation to gatherings, entertainment and tourist facilities, while insisting that local cultural customs be respected.
Contrary to all these examples of countries adapting to the tournament, the current hosts USA did not want to adapt. The impression is that the leaders of FIFA, led by President Gianni Infantino, were consciously adapting to the populist narratives of the 47th US President, Donald Trump.
You can read all "Vremena" articles about the World Cup at HERE.
Real journalism costs money, and we will not be bought by tycoons and corporations. Support us with a one-time or monthly donation. The time for it is now!
