Trump's World Cup: More Matches, Higher Prices, Fewer Foreigners

As the 2026 World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico approaches, concerns regarding its organization emerge, with a significant emphasis on heightened match numbers, soaring ticket prices, and reduced foreign participation. One of the notable incidents included the barring of Somalia's African referee of the year from officiating the tournament, despite holding appropriate accreditation and a valid visa.

The build-up to the event has seen the U.S. impose stringent entry restrictions, with certain fans and support staff from various countries denied entry. Additionally, Iran's national team faces travel limitations, as they are required to conduct a series of plane hops between Los Angeles and their new base camp in Tijuana. FIFA's president, meanwhile, stands to profit handsomely from the expanded 48-team format and exorbitantly priced tickets.

Historical context also plays a role. Each World Cup reflects its contemporary socio-political climate—1978 represented a period of military dictatorship in Argentina, while 1998 in France celebrated its diverse population through its black-blanc-beurre heroes. The 2014 tournament in Brazil exposed cracks amid social unrest following an economic boom.

François Picard, who covered the last U.S. World Cup in 1994, reminisced about the memorable highs and lows, such as Diego Maradona's dramatic presence and Bulgaria’s shocking defeat of Germany. This year's World Cup inherits a complex legacy, which raises the question of how this iteration will be remembered.

Guests on a recent segment included Simon Kuper, columnist for the Financial Times; sports journalist Thando Sibiya; and Celso Thomas Castilho, director at Vanderbilt University’s Center for Latin American Studies.