Climate In January 2025,
Queen's University Belfast warned about potential heat risks for most of the host cities and urged FIFA to schedule match kickoffs later into the afternoon or evening, stating that the
wet-bulb globe temperature in certain host cities was higher than that of Qatar in the winter. During the
2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which was also hosted in the United States, several matches reported high temperatures ranging from and weather delays. In December 2025, FIFA announced that all matches at the 2026 World Cup would include a mandatory three-minute hydration break in each half to allow players to rest in hot conditions. The three-minute period would also be available for commercials at the discretion of tournament broadcasters. Concerns have also been raised by climate activists about the environmental impact of both the expansion to 48 teams as well as traveling between host cities, most of which will require extensive air travel and increase carbon emissions, a counter to one of FIFA's goals on sustainability. A report by
Scientists for Global Responsibility in July 2025 calculated that the amount of greenhouse gas emissions for the tournament would make it one of the most polluting events in the world as it would be almost double the average for the last four tournaments (2022 reportedly had ), roughly the same amount as 6.5 million cars driven for a year.
Immigration policy in the United States During the bidding process, President
Donald Trump's
executive orders regarding immigration from certain Muslim-majority countries in 2017 implemented during his
first term were touted as a potential risk. Infantino stated, "any team, including the supporters and officials of that team, who qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country, otherwise there is no World Cup." Concerns around the staging of the tournament were also raised during the first meeting of the
FIFA World Cup Task Force due to the
immigration policy of the second Donald Trump administration. In response, Vice President
JD Vance said, "Of course, everybody is welcome to come and see this incredible event, but when the time is up, they'll have to go home. Otherwise, they'll have to talk to
Secretary Noem." On June 11, 2025, the Sports & Rights Alliance,
Human Rights Watch, and
Amnesty International called on FIFA to ensure that
human rights in the United States were upheld during the tournament, especially in light of the use of force during the
anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles where journalists and protesters were attacked by local police. Following the killings of civilians
Renée Good and
Alex Pretti by federal agents during
immigration enforcement operations in the
Minneapolis–Saint Paul area in January 2026, fan group
Football Supporters Europe stated that it was "extremely concerned by the ongoing militarisation of police forces in the US."
2025 travel ban and exemptions In June 2025, the
second Trump administration reinstated a
travel ban affecting citizens from multiple countries, citing national security concerns. The ban, which was later expanded in December, prohibits the issuance of new immigrant and
non-immigrant visas for citizens of 39 affected countries, including those whose teams have qualified for the World Cup—
Haiti,
Iran,
Ivory Coast, and
Senegal. The proclamation includes an exemption for any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup,
Olympics, or other major sporting events as determined by the
Secretary of State. This exemption ensured that national teams' players, coaches, and staff of those designated countries would be permitted to enter the United States for the competition, but the
US State Department confirmed that ordinary citizens of the four countries were not covered by this exemption, making them ineligible for visa issuance to attend the matches. While fans were permitted to submit visa applications with the promise of priority if they provided proof of tickets, the department noted that issuance would be unlikely, barring rare "national interest" waivers. However, this restriction can be circumvented if a fan is a valid visa holder, a permanent resident, or a
dual national who applies using a passport not subject to the ban. In such cases, applicants may still be eligible to enter or apply for entry, provided they satisfy all other immigration and security requirements.
Visa bond program Aside from the travel ban, the Trump administration also introduced a “visa bond” policy in August 2025
targeting nationals from countries with high overstay rates, inadequate screening and vetting information, or those that offer
citizenship by investment programs, whereby applicants can obtain citizenship without a residency requirement. The qualified teams affected under this policy are Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Tunisia, requiring aspiring fans to pay a deposit of up to $15,000 in order to secure a
B-1/B-2 visitor visa needed to attend World Cup matches in the United States. Unlike the travel ban, there is no word if the policy will apply to national team players, coaches, and staff from the designated countries but
The New York Times reported that FIFA is looking to get exemptions for players from those nations who are on the list.
Potential boycott over Greenland Following
US assertions regarding Greenland in January 2026, European political and sporting figures discussed a potential boycott of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with calls for action emerging from the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands. While major governing bodies remained cautious, the debate highlighted growing friction between FIFA—headed by Gianni Infantino, who presented a "FIFA Peace Prize" to US President Donald Trump in December 2025—and European soccer associations, with some figures drawing parallels to the
exclusion of Russia from international competition in 2022.
Iran's participation On November 27, 2025, the
Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) said it would boycott the December 5 World Cup draw after its president,
Mehdi Taj, was denied a visa to enter the United States. Four other delegation members, including head coach
Amir Ghalenoei, were approved. An FFIRI spokesperson told state media the United States' decision was "unrelated to sport" and said the federation quickly raised the issue with FIFA President
Gianni Infantino. However, on December 3, the FFIRI reversed its decision and announced that it would send representatives to the draw, with head coach Ghalenoei serving as the technical representative of the national soccer team. FIFA has long promoted the World Cup under the slogan "Football Unites the World," presenting it as a symbol of global connection and harmony. However, several reports suggest that the 2026 edition is taking place in a more complex context, with political tensions, including those involving Iran and the United States, as well as security concerns and immigration and visa policies in the United States, potentially making participation in the tournament more difficult. Some analysts also describe the tournament as facing a mix of political, security, and logistical challenges at the same time. Some commentators argue that while FIFA continues to emphasize messages of unity, these conditions may undermine that narrative by highlighting divisions and unequal access for fans from different parts of the world.
Protests and massacres in Iran In January 2026, multiple Iranian soccer players and athletes were killed during the
2026 Iran massacres amid
protests, including former
Tractor Sazi F.C. midfielder
Mojtaba Tarshiz, prompting former
Iran national team captain
Masoud Shojaei to criticize FIFA for its silence over the killing of Iranian athletes during protests, while then-captain
Mehdi Taremi expressed solidarity with the Iranian people.
Ali Karimi, a former player for the Iran national team, along with a coalition of prominent Iranians, wrote an open letter to FIFA and all its member associations, calling on Infantino to speak up on the protest deaths. Following the massacres, activists and former Iranian wrestling coach
Sardar Pashaei called on FIFA and the
International Olympic Committee to ban the Iranian teams from the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the
2026 Winter Olympics.
Iran war Further complications regarding Iran's participation occurred as a result of the
2026 Iran–United States crisis in February 2026, which resulted in the
United States and Israel launching missiles at Iran. In retaliation, Iran launched missiles at Israel and
Persian Gulf Arab states, as well as additional spillover missile strikes in Jordan. FIFA stated that it was monitoring the situation and was focused on getting all countries to participate, despite reports saying Iran may not participate. According to
The Guardian, if Iran were to withdraw, intercontinental playoff participant
Iraq or the
United Arab Emirates, the last
Asian Football Confederation team to be
eliminated from the qualifiers, could be likely beneficiaries to replace it in
Group G. FIFA has warned that Iran could face fines and a ban from future competitions should it withdraw from the tournament. However, on March 10, Iran hinted that it may do so due to the risk of defections from players, similar to the
women's team during the
2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia. Following a meeting with US President Trump on March 10, Infantino said that Trump had reiterated that the Iranian team "is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States". In a post on
Truth Social, Trump later added that, while the team is welcome, it would "[not be] appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety". In response, Iran asked for FIFA to remove the United States as tournament hosts, referring to Trump's statement that the Iranian team's safety could not be guaranteed. On March 11, Iran's
Minister of Sport and Youth,
Ahmad Donyamali, reportedly ruled out participation in the World Cup in an interview with
Deutsche Presse-Agentur, citing the
assassination of Ali Khamenei, and later told
Iranian state television that "under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup", though the team's withdrawal has not been confirmed by FIFA. On March 17, it was reported that FFIRI was negotiating with FIFA to move Iran's scheduled matches from the United States to Mexico, again citing Trump's statement that the Iranian team's safety could not be guaranteed. That same day, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) stated that it had not received any formal notification from Iran regarding an intention to withdraw from the tournament. Speaking to reporters at AFC headquarters in
Kuala Lumpur, General Secretary
Windsor John said that the final decision rests with FFIRI, adding that "the federation has informed us that they are going to the World Cup." He also expressed hope that Iran would resolve its internal issues and participate, noting that the team was among the first Asian teams to secure qualification, having done so in March 2025. On March 27, ahead of a scheduled
AFC Champions League Elite match, state media reported that Iran's Ministry of Sport and Youth had banned its sports teams from traveling to countries it considers "hostile", but it did not explicitly mention the World Cup. The Group G host cities, which include
Los Angeles and
Seattle, as well as Iran's base camp city
Tucson, Arizona, reportedly fear increased security risks. In April 2026, FIFA president Infantino confirmed Iran's participation, stating: "The Iranian team is coming, for sure."
Impact on Iraq The war also significantly impacted Iraq's logistical preparations for the interconfederation playoffs, needing to win just one match to qualify for the World Cup. Following the closure of Iraqi airspace and the suspension of international flights, the Mexican
Secretariat of Foreign Affairs intervened to grant entry visas for the national team through diplomatic channels in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, since Mexico does not have an embassy in Iraq. However, despite the issuance of visas, over 60% of the domestic-based squad remained stranded in Baghdad, and a scheduled training camp in Houston before the playoffs was canceled. Head coach
Graham Arnold was forced to manage team operations remotely from the United Arab Emirates, as the delegation was unable to secure safe passage out of the conflict zone during the initial weeks of the war. The
Iraq Football Association (IFA) formally petitioned FIFA to postpone the playoff match, citing the impossibility of safe transit for the players and staff. The original plan was for the team to fly on March 20 from the
Arar Domestic Airport in Saudi Arabia, near the
Iraqi border, and arrive in Monterrey the next day, 10 days before the match. However, further airspace closures in the area forced the group of players and staff based in Iraq to travel overland to Jordan where they departed on a charter flight from
Queen Alia International Airport in
Amman on March 21. After a technical layover in
Lisbon, they arrived in Monterrey minutes after midnight. On March 31, Iraq qualified for the World Cup after a 40-year absence by beating
Bolivia 2–1 in the intercontinental playoff final, marking the longest qualifying campaign ever by a national team, spanning 21 matches over a period of 28 months beginning in November 2023.
Pride Match (Egypt vs. Iran) A "
Pride Match" was planned in advance to take place in Seattle, organized by the local committee to tie into the
local celebration and without endorsement by FIFA. After the draw and release of the schedule, it was determined that this match would feature Egypt and Iran, two countries where homosexuality is
punishable by law. Seattle's Pride Match Advisory Committee spokesperson said "The Pride Match has been scheduled to celebrate and elevate Pride events in Seattle and across the country and it was planned well in advance".
Iranian Football Federation President
Mehdi Taj said both countries had "objections" and that the branding was an "irrational move that supports a certain group." Iran was planning to appeal the decision. The
Egyptian Football Association also sent a formal letter to FIFA Secretary General
Mattias Grafström rejecting "in absolute terms" LGBTQ connections to the match.
Human rights and security in Mexico Labor rights In March 2025, the trade union
Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI) accused FIFA of blocking a planned labor inspection at Mexico City's
Estadio Azteca, which is undergoing renovations in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to BWI, FIFA's intervention prevented inspectors from evaluating working conditions at the site, raising concerns about potential labor rights violations similar to
alleged instances of slave labor at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Unrest in Jalisco Following the
capture and death of
Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader
Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes in
Tapalpa on February 22, 2026,
retaliatory violence was launched by CJNG members across the state of
Jalisco and various other Mexican states which involved shootouts, explosions, and blocking roads using burnt vehicles as well as setting fire to various businesses, raising concerns about security during matches played in
Guadalajara, Jalisco's largest city. Despite this, FIFA officials have no intentions to move any matches and the Mexican government has reassured visitors that security would be guaranteed for visitors. In March 2026, Mexico announced that 100,000 troops would be deployed for security during the tournament.
Final match halftime show On September 28, 2024, FIFA announced that
Global Citizen, an international advocacy organization, would co-produce a
halftime show for the
final match at
MetLife Stadium, the first halftime show in the history of the World Cup. The show is intended to copy the format of the
Super Bowl halftime show, featuring a well-known musical performer to increase the tournament's commercial appeal in the market. The show has generated debate in the global soccer community. Supporters argue that the event modernizes the World Cup and provides a platform for global cultural exchange and revenue growth. However, critics, players, media, unions, and traditionalist fan groups have criticized what they view as the "
Americanization" of soccer. Primary objections focus on the potential extension of the traditional 15-minute halftime interval, which generated an argument that it will disrupt player recovery, interfere with technical coaching adjustments, and break the natural flow of the match.
Decentralized host committees in the United States Unlike previous World Cups where there was a centralized organizing committee, each of the 11 US host cities have set up their own individual host committees, with independent deals with FIFA. As a result, most of the financial and legal responsibilities have shifted from a national level to a local one, including the majority of those for infrastructure improvements, public safety and security, and transportation. In February 2026, the
Select Board of Foxborough refused to grant the entertainment license to hold matches at
Gillette Stadium, stating that they still needed $7.8 million upfront in security funding, which is too heavy of a burden for a community with a population of about 18,000 to pay now and wait to be reimbursed later. While the federal government had earmarked a total of $625 million for security in the 11 US host cities, it remained unclear how much Foxborough's share would be and when it would receive it. In addition, while the local Boston host committee is responsible for most of the public safety costs, they were still waiting on federal grant funding. Various cities have also had issues regarding the planning of the
FIFA Fan Festival, which has resulted in plans for large central fan festivals, typically seen at the tournament, either being canceled and replaced with smaller community focused festivals or scaled down due to high costs in
New York/New Jersey,
Miami, and
Seattle. ==Notes==