The men's World Cup begins Thursday with 104 matches across 48 nations, 16 venues, and four time zones spanning Canada, the United States, and Mexico through July 19. It will be the largest football tournament ever staged, with 1,248 players competing in conditions ranging from Houston heat to Guadalajara's altitude.
The tournament's lead-up has been turbulent. FIFA's ticketing system has drawn fierce criticism for pricing out ordinary fans. The cheapest available FIFA ticket for the US opening match against Paraguay costs $1,120, even as 4,400 seats sat unsold on resale portals earlier this week at lower prices. FIFA president Gianni Infantino promised inclusivity but oversaw an opaque and expensive system that will gentrify World Cup stadiums as never before.
Political tensions have cast a shadow over proceedings. In Donald Trump's United States, the Iranian football federation reports that key staff members have been denied entry visas. The US also rejected a visa for FIFA-appointed referee Omar Artan of Somalia and broke World Cup precedent by refusing to lift travel bans for supporters and journalists from nations deemed undesirable. Tensions between the three co-host nations have deepened due to Trump's tariff wars and public speculation about annexing Canada. Despite Infantino's claims that the world is welcome in America, he has been powerless to prevent such posturing.
For viewers globally, however, the focus will shift to the pitch once Mexico faces South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday evening. The World Cup provides a globally shared experience unmatched by any other sport. The 2022 final between Argentina and France drew an estimated 1.5 billion viewers and delivered one of history's greatest spectacles. A rematch remains a tantalizing possibility this summer.
England seeks a first final since 1966. Scotland hopes to progress from the group stage after eight failed attempts. Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan will make their World Cup debuts, with historic memories guaranteed regardless of outcomes. When Curacao, the smallest nation ever to compete at this stage, plays Germany on Sunday, only victory will occupy the players' minds. Commercial excess and money-grubbing may have dulled the tournament's shine, but the world's favorite sport retains its power to inspire.
Author James Rodriguez: "The venue rows and visa drama were predictable enough, but Infantino's ticket scheme may be the true scandal here, and it will haunt FIFA long after the final whistle."
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