List of 2026 FIFA World Cup controversies
Soccer tournament controversies
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup was accompanied by a number of controversies mostly relating to FIFA ticket pricing, political, logistical, environmental, and human rights issues across its three host nations—the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Many venues were criticized for inadequate public transit access. Mandatory hydration breaks introduced in response to extreme heat concerns became a source of criticism after broadcasters used them to air commercials. Environmental groups projected the expanded 48-team tournament to be among the most carbon-intensive in World Cup history. Additional concerns included labor disputes at SoFi Stadium, security and infrastructure issues in all three host nations, Mexican cartel-related unrest in Guadalajara, cost overruns in Canadian host cities, and the restriction of the Spanish language at official press conferences, despite Spanish being one of FIFA's seven official languages and the primary language of co-host Mexico.[1][2]
Commercial and ticketing controversies
Ticket prices
One of the most prominent disputes was FIFA's use of dynamic pricing for tickets—with tickets to the final at MetLife Stadium listed at up to $11,000—which drew criticism from fans, politicians, and players and prompted investigations by multiple U.S. state attorneys general. In September 2025, FIFA confirmed it would use dynamic pricing for World Cup tickets for the first time, following the practice used in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.[3] The use of demand-based pricing drew criticism from some United States lawmakers, who argued that it could reduce affordability for fans. FIFA stated that its variable pricing approach differed from fully dynamic pricing, as adjustments were made based on periodic reviews of demand rather than automatic real-time changes.[4]
Fans and players voiced concerns about high ticket prices, particularly for matches hosted in the United States.[5] FIFA's use of dynamic pricing and their own secondary market were criticized as a deviation from the previous first-come, first-served model.[6] President Donald Trump questioned the fees charged by FIFA and stated that he would not pay a thousand dollars to watch the United States' opening match.[7] New York mayor Zohran Mamdani attempted to combat FIFA's price gouging by campaigning for the organization to end its dynamic pricing model, albeit to no avail.[8] House Democrats also called on FIFA to lower prices, but were ignored by the organization.[9] Also joining the inquiry into the price gouging were the attorneys general of New York (Letitia James), New Jersey (Jennifer Davenport), Texas (Ken Paxton), and California (Rob Bonta).[10]
FIFA was heavily criticized by the media and fans for raising ticket prices for the final match at MetLife Stadium, with a single ticket costing US$11,000.[11] United States midfielder Timothy Weah stated that tickets were "too expensive", criticisms that were dismissed by manager Mauricio Pochettino, causing backlash from American fans.[12][13][14] In May 2026, FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the price of tickets, insisting the organization "had to apply market rates".[15]
The high ticket prices were seen as a possible cause for empty seats seen during multiple matches.[16] While the opening match was played in a full stadium, the second match showed thousands of empty seats, again raising concerns about high ticket prices. In an official statement by FIFA regarding the empty seats, they stated that this was due to "several ticketed fans standing in concourses rather than staying in their assigned seats".[17][18] This statement drew scrutiny, even more so when thousands of empty seats were visible again during the first match by host nation Canada.[19] Several other reasons were given for the empty seating, including people sheltering from the heat.[16] Many empty hospitality seats were seen during the match between the Netherlands and Japan, which were filled by FIFA volunteers ten minutes into the match after they had been allowed to occupy the seats.[20]
Final match halftime show
FIFA announced that there would be a halftime show for the World Cup final, similar to the NFL's Super Bowl halftime show. It was the first halftime show in the history of the FIFA World Cup.[21] This was criticized as an Americanization and commercialization of the sport,[22][23][24][25] and for going against general IFAB protocol, which in the codified Laws of the Game stated that the halftime could not exceed 15 minutes.[23][26]
Bottle bans
FIFA initially announced a ban on reusable water bottles inside all stadiums during the 2026 World Cup, stating that the bottles posed a safety hazard as they could be thrown and cause injuries. The decision was widely criticized, as most games would be played during the hottest hours of the day, raising concerns about hydration, fan welfare, and environmental impact. FIFA responded that it would provide hydration stations, cooling areas, and other measures.[27][28] Later, FIFA stated that fans in the United States and Canada could bring factory-sealed plastic water bottles into stadiums.[29]
Climate and environmental impact
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.[30] During the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which was also hosted in the United States, several matches reported high temperatures ranging from 90 to 102 °F (32 to 39 °C) and weather delays.[31][32] On May 20, 2026, a letter from the New Weather Institute signed by dozens of players called for FIFA to take stronger action on heat protocols during the tournament, as well as to reduce the climate impact of the game.[33]
Hydration breaks
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.[34] Despite the reported initial motivation behind the break as the players' welfare, many media sources largely interpreted the break to provide a period of tactical instruction midway through the half. Momentum appeared to shift significantly after the break, and, in the first matchday, there were a total of 170 shots between the hydration break and halftime, compared to just 115 shots from the start of matches to the hydration break. In addition, the breaks came under criticism, particularly when being implemented in all stadiums, including the air-conditioned ones.[35] During the group stage match between Ghana and Panama in Toronto, supporters began booing the hydration break as it took place despite heavy rain;[36] a large portion of these breaks across the tournament went on to be booed by fans in attendance.
The three-minute period would also be available for commercials at the discretion of tournament broadcasters.[37] During the tournament, several broadcasters used the break to air commercials, although FIFA requested that broadcasters return to the match 30 seconds before play resumed. This sparked criticism from fans, who argued that it disrupted the pace of play and allowed broadcasters to extract added advertising revenue. Some fans reported missing the resumption of play after broadcasters failed to return from commercials before play resumed.[38][39]
During hydration breaks, commercials made by U.S. English-language broadcaster Fox Network (which also included FS1 and FS2) were the subject of scrutiny by viewers who were watching the matches at home, and viewers harshly criticized the network for lengthy commercial breaks that had drawn out before the match had resumed (although multiple international broadcasters also inserted ads into those breaks). U.S. Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo, on the other hand, never showed commercials during those breaks, with its announcers actively mentioning so during each.[40] In addition, Telemundo's coverage was streamed on the cheaper Peacock service at a $10.99 per month subscription versus Fox's coverage streamed on Fox One at $19.99 per month. It was thus reported that at least 20 percent of Telemundo's viewers stated that English was their primary language instead of Spanish, leading to "tensions" between Fox/FS1/FS2/Fox One's parent company the Fox Corporation, and Telemundo/Peacock's parent company NBCUniversal. As a result, FIFA bundled the U.S. English and Spanish rights together for the next World Cups to increase their bids.[41][42]
Environmental impact
The tournament's environmental impact also drew significant criticism. Concerns were raised by climate activists about the environmental impact of expansion to 48 teams and the large distances between venues. A report by Scientists for Global Responsibility calculated that the tournament's greenhouse gas emissions 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.[43][44][45] This was seen to contradict FIFA's sustainability goals.[44]
An independent study by carbon accounting firm Greenly estimated the event's total carbon footprint as equivalent to 7.8 million metric tons of CO₂, more than double the official emissions reported for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. While utilizing existing stadiums limited infrastructure emissions to just 3% of the total, the vast geographical distribution of matches across three North American countries and the expansion to 48 teams caused spectator and team transit to account for 87.8% of the tournament's overall carbon footprint.[46] Critics also questioned FIFA's sustainability commitments, citing its sponsorship agreement with Saudi oil company Aramco.[47] Additional scrutiny was directed at the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under the second Trump administration in 2026, which was seen as going against the environmental commitments linked with hosting and highlighting FIFA's lack of enforcement on climate standards.[48]
Infrastructure, transit, and host-city logistics
Decentralized host committees in the United States
Unlike previous World Cups, where there was a centralized organizing committee, each of the eleven U.S. host cities largely followed a decentralized American sports model, setting up its own host committee, with independent deals with FIFA. As a result, most of the financial and legal responsibilities shifted from the national level to the local level, including the majority of those for infrastructure improvements, public safety and security, and transportation.[49][50]
In February 2026, the Select Board of Foxborough refused to grant the entertainment license to hold matches at Gillette Stadium, stating that it still needed $7.8 million upfront in security funding—too heavy a burden for a community of about 18,000 people to pay upfront and wait to be reimbursed later.[49][51] While the federal government had earmarked a total of $625 million for security across the eleven U.S. host cities, it remained unclear how much Foxborough's share would be and when it would arrive.[52] In addition, while the local Boston host committee was responsible for most public safety costs, it was still awaiting federal grant funding.[50] The town board had set a deadline of March 17 to resolve the funding issue, which was met when Robert Kraft agreed five days before the deadline that his company would pay the bill.[51][53] Various cities also had issues planning the FIFA Fan Festival, resulting in large central fan festivals—typically a feature of the tournament—either being canceled and replaced with smaller, community-focused festivals, or scaled down due to high costs in New York/New Jersey, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle.[54][55][56]
Stadium access
Many U.S. venues lacked public transit rail access, instead being serviced primarily or exclusively by private car-dependent infrastructure that the American Society of Civil Engineers rated deficient.[57] Visitors to the United States instead considered walking to venues such as MetLife Stadium along the shoulder of Interstate 95.[57][58][59] This would be difficult due to the closure of some pedestrian crossings for the event.[60] Additionally, local officials chastised anyone attempting to walk to the venue and blamed them for endangering motorists and police officers.[61][59] The New York Times found that some Americans dismissed the calls for public transit and walkability as Europeanism.[62]
MetLife Stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is part of the New York Metropolitan area, but not located in New York City proper. The location of the stadium was the subject of criticism due to the slow pace of transporting spectators to and from the stadium. Three hours after the Brazil vs Morocco group stage match, spectators were still stuck at MetLife Stadium, with New Jersey Transit struggling to move spectators.[63] These challenges occurred despite less than expected demand for taking the train to the stadium.[64]
The U.S. Federal Transit Administration made $100 million in grants available to transit agencies in host cities for the tournament to offset the cost of running specialized service, including express routes to stadiums.[65] The regular fare of US$12.90 for a New Jersey Transit rail trip to MetLife Stadium was raised to US$150 to cover additional operating costs; it was then reduced to US$98 after public backlash.[61][57] Other cities, such as Atlanta, Houston, and Seattle, charged normal fares for their transit to stadiums despite introducing special service.[66][67] A study of Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, which had no rail access, found that the nominal 32-minute travel time by private car from the airport was expected to balloon to 136 minutes due to traffic.[68] To meet FIFA's contractual obligations, Kansas City bolstered its municipal bus service, but intended to cut it back once the World Cup ended.[69]
Urban planner Ray Delahanty ranked the venues on their transit access and proximity to urban cores, noting that World Cup fans were "people who are, for the most part, used to being able to walk, bike, or take transit to a stadium that is close to the heart of their city".[70] His tier list ranked Vancouver and Seattle most highly (S-tier); followed by Atlanta (A-tier); Toronto, Philadelphia, and Mexico City (B-tier); Houston (C-tier); Monterrey and San Francisco (D-tier); Los Angeles, Kansas City, Guadalajara, and Dallas (E-tier); and Miami, Boston (where the local MBTA raised its round trip fares to $80), and New Jersey (F-tier).[70]
Cost overruns (Canada)
In the host cities of Toronto and Vancouver, residents expressed concern that the costs of hosting the FIFA World Cup, which were around $1 billion, were not worth it, citing concerns over disruptions, street closures, security perimeters, tax breaks for FIFA, and the cancellation or rescheduling of summer events. In addition, past guarantees to keep costs down were not held, with costs increasing by double or triple the initial estimate in the eight years since the bid was announced in 2018, with much of the funding coming from government sources.[71][72]
Host city demands (Canada)
Montreal, the second-largest city in Canada, had initially been considered to host World Cup games after Vancouver dropped out due to cost concerns; however, officials in Montreal stated that FIFA's demands were too restrictive and opted out in 2021, as complying would have forced the cancellation of events such as the Canadian Grand Prix, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Montreal Triathlon, and Les Francos de Montréal, on top of the stadium and field demands.[73]
Infrastructure projects (Mexico)
Multiple projects, including the construction and renovation of airports, stadiums, and railways, were affected by delays in planning and execution.[74] Three days after President Claudia Sheinbaum inaugurated the renovations at Mexico City International Airport, part of a bridge collapsed onto a vehicle, injuring the driver.[75][76] Line 2 of the Mexico City Metro, which connected to the Xochimilco Light Rail serving Estadio Azteca, had multiple stations closed for renovation work in June. Head of Government of Mexico City Clara Brugada said the delay was caused by the late disbursement of funds.[77][78] In Monterrey, multiple highways and metro stations were reported incomplete as of June 1, 2026. Renovation work was still underway outside Monterrey International Airport, while construction of Lines 4 and 6 was also ongoing.[79] In Guadalajara, the planned Line 5 of the Urban Electric Train System was replaced by a bus rapid transit line operated by Mi Macro.[80]
Immigration and visa issues
Immigration policy in the United States and Canada
Another controversy, similar to when the events were hosted in Russia and Qatar, involved host country immigration policies. Specifically, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the United States immigration and visa policies under the second Trump administration, which affected players, officials, journalists, and fans from several qualified nations. A travel ban affecting citizens of 39 countries—including World Cup participants Haiti, Iran, Ivory Coast, and Senegal—prevented most ordinary fans from those countries from obtaining visas to attend matches in the United States, though exemptions were granted for athletes, coaches, and essential support staff, as well as dual citizens, permanent residents, and valid visa holders. A separate visa bond program initially required fans from five African nations to pay deposits of up to $15,000, a requirement that was temporarily suspended in May 2026 for ticketed fans. Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was detained for seven hours upon arrival at O'Hare International Airport, while Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry and was unable to officiate at the tournament.
The participation of the Iran national team became complicated when the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, 2026. Iran's training base was relocated from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, and the team's ticket allocation was revoked days before the tournament began. Portions of Iran's coaching and administrative staff were denied visas, and Iranian authorities threatened to withdraw the team on multiple occasions before ultimately confirming participation. 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."[81] In response, the Trump administration sent letters to FIFA stating, in part, that Trump was "confident" that "all eligible athletes, officials and fans from all countries around the world would be able to enter the United States without discrimination."[82]
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."[83] 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.[84][85][86] 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."[87]
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.[88] The ban, which was later expanded in December, prohibited the issuance of new immigrant and non-immigrant visas for citizens of 39 affected countries, including those whose teams had qualified for the World Cup: Haiti, Iran, Ivory Coast, and Senegal. The proclamation included 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.[89][90]
This exemption ensured that national teams' players, coaches, and staff from those designated countries would be permitted to enter the United States for the competition, but the U.S. 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 could be circumvented if a fan was a valid visa holder, a permanent resident, or a dual national who applied using a passport not subject to the ban. In such cases, applicants could still be eligible to enter or apply for entry, provided they satisfied all other immigration and security requirements.[91][92][93]
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 offered citizenship by investment programs, whereby applicants could obtain citizenship without a residency requirement.[94][95][96] The qualified teams affected under this policy were Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, 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.[97] Unlike the travel ban, it was unclear whether the policy would apply to national team players, coaches, and staff from the designated countries, but The New York Times reported that FIFA was seeking exemptions for players from those nations on the list.[98][99] In May 2026, the U.S. government decided to temporarily drop the $15,000 visa bond requirement, as long as fans had a valid ticket for the tournament. At the same time, the U.S. banned fans from Iran and Haiti from traveling to the World Cup with limited exceptions (dual citizens, permanent residents, and valid visa holders); players, coaches, and support staff from those two countries were not affected by the ban.[100]
Visa denials, entry restrictions, and border enforcement
In June 2026, Iranian players were ultimately granted visas to enter the United States, but a substantial portion of coaching, managerial, and support staff were reportedly denied entry permits, prompting accusations from Iranian officials of discriminatory and politically motivated treatment.[101][102] Reports indicated that the team was only permitted to enter the United States on match days, further complicating logistical planning and training arrangements. Iranian authorities and soccer officials argued that such measures undermined the principle of equal participation and contravened the obligations of a World Cup host nation, while U.S. officials maintained that security-related screening procedures were necessary and targeted individuals with alleged links to non-sporting or sanctioned entities.[103][104][101] As of June 14, ten Iranian delegation members re-submitted the U.S. visa applications after arriving in Mexico, while only four members were approved.[105]
On June 2, Swiss striker Breel Embolo was initially denied entry to the United States due to a 2023 conviction for making threats, for which he received a suspended fine.[106] He was later granted entry clearance and remained eligible to participate in the tournament.[107] On June 5, Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was detained and questioned for seven hours upon arriving in the United States through Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, where, according to an Iraqi Olympic Committee official, U.S. authorities inspected his phone before permitting his entry into the country. Meanwhile, the team's photographer, Talal Salah, was detained for more than ten hours and ultimately denied entry into the United States.[108][109][110][111]
On June 6, Somali referee Omar Artan, who had been selected to officiate at the World Cup, was denied entry into the United States upon arrival at Miami International Airport despite holding a valid U.S. visa and a diplomatic passport issued with the assistance of the Somali Embassy in Nairobi.[112] He was subsequently placed on a return flight to Istanbul, from where he had traveled to attend a mandatory FIFA seminar for match officials ahead of the tournament.[113] United States Customs and Border Protection stated that Artan was found inadmissible following inspection due to "vetting concerns" and alleged "association with suspected members of terror organizations". Artan strongly denied any links to terror groups. Upon his return to Somalia, it was announced that Artan would receive his full World Cup salary despite not being able to officiate in the tournament.[114] Additionally, according to reports, Jibril Rajoub, president of the Palestinian Football Association, was denied a U.S. visa, preventing him from traveling to the country to attend World Cup-related events. According to the Associated Press, Rajoub stated that he was waiting in Mexico City for permission to enter the United States.[115][116]
On June 11, Julien Kouadio Adonis, president of the National Committee of Elephants Supporters (CNSE) of Ivory Coast, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the United States government had denied visas to Ivory Coast-based fans who wished to attend the World Cup. According to Adonis, U.S. officials explicitly stated that they did not want supporters from certain countries, including Ivory Coast and Senegal, on American soil. As a result, the Ivorian and Senegalese fans canceled their travel plans. Only a handful of CNSE officials were authorized to travel, and their role was limited to supporting members of the respective communities already residing in the United States.[117]
On June 12, the Government of Canada denied a visa and entry into the country to Ghanaian player Thomas Partey, resulting in his absence from Ghana's opening match against Panama. The decision was reportedly linked to criminal charges brought in Britain against Partey, who was accused of five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July 2025, as well as additional rape charges filed in February 2026. In response, FIFA stated: "FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country".[118]
On June 13, the Ghanaian government protested Canada's denial of the visa to Partey while saying there was lack of judicial decisions regarding the charges.[119] On June 17, a Canadian federal judge rejected Partey's emergency appeal against the visa denial, ruling that there were insufficient grounds to overturn the immigration authorities' decision. The ruling confirmed his ineligibility to enter Canada and his absence from Ghana's opening match against Panama in Toronto, which Ghana won 1–0.[120] On June 21, after receiving permission to enter the United States, Partey was named in Ghana's squad for their group stage match against England in Boston.[121] After making his World Cup debut starting in a 1–0 win over Ecuador in Philadelphia, Ivorian player Elye Wahi was initially refused entry to Canada for the second match against Germany due to concerns relating to alleged involvement in a spot-fixing scandal earlier that year,[122] before later being granted permission to travel after officials confirmed he met the entry requirements.[123]
Immigration enforcement in host cities
In April 2026, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said that customs officials could stop processing international travelers at airports in U.S. sanctuary cities that declined to cooperate with the administration's immigration enforcement.[124] In late May, Mullin confirmed that the department was drawing up such plans. Seven of the eleven United States host cities, including Boston, Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle, and the San Francisco Bay Area, were sanctuary jurisdictions that could have been affected.[125] Airlines for America warned the proposal would have a "devastating effect" on the airline and tourism industries, leading to speculation the timing of that new rule had been postponed until after the tournament.[126]
In May 2026, NBC News reported that ICE personnel may be present at World Cup matches and that the agency had issued no internal guidance prohibiting immigration arrests at stadiums.[127] Workers at SoFi Stadium protested in May over a potential ICE deployment at matches (§ Labor disputes). On June 1, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said federal officials had told him that civil immigration enforcement would not take place at World Cup games or events in Los Angeles, while noting the assurance was "subject to change".[128]
Visa applications (Canada)
On June 24, 2026, CTV News reported that more than half of "all World Cup visitor applications" were denied by the Canadian government. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the most applications came from Ghana. At least 1,725 visitor visa applications from Ghanaian soccer fans were processed by Canada, and only under 11% of these were approved.[129]
Boycott threats
There were various calls to boycott the 2026 World Cup, largely as a consequence of U.S. immigration policy under the second presidency of Donald Trump.[130][131] CNN reported Trump's travel ban on 39 countries, which it described as "mostly non-White, African or Muslim-majority countries."[130] An online boycott petition in the Netherlands gathered 174,000 signatures.[132][130] Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter also endorsed a fan-led boycott movement.[133][130]
Following U.S. 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 United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands.[134][135] While major governing bodies remained cautious,[136][137] the debate highlighted growing friction between FIFA—headed by Gianni Infantino, who presented a "FIFA Peace Prize" to United States president Donald Trump in December 2025—and European football associations, with some figures drawing parallels to the exclusion of Russia from international competitions in 2022.[138]
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.[139] 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 national team's technical representative.[140]
FIFA had 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 suggested that the 2026 edition was 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 U.S., potentially making participation in the tournament more difficult.[141] Some analysts also described the tournament as facing a mix of political, security, and logistical challenges at the same time.[142] Commentators argued that while FIFA continued to emphasize messages of unity, these conditions could undermine that narrative by highlighting divisions and unequal access for fans from different parts of the world.[143]
Protests against the Iran national team
On April 30, 2026, members of the Iranian opposition held protests outside the 2026 FIFA Congress in Vancouver, stating that the team represented the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) instead of the people of Iran.[144] On May 19, it was reported that FIFA would again ban the Iranian Lion and Sun flag from World Cup stadiums, similar to previous World Cups.[145][146] On May 26, FIFA faced the threat of legal action from The Institute for Voices of Liberty over its ban of the Lion and Sun flag.[147] On June 10, Iran's sports minister Ahmad Donyamali stated that the team may pull out of matches if "unofficial flags" or "chants against the national team" were present inside stadiums during matches involving the country.[148]
Despite this, several hundred Iranian-Americans brought Lion and Sun flags before the match in defiance of the rules and booed the current anthem, with many of them being members of Los Angeles's Iranian community, who were known for opposing the current government.[149][150] Some Iranian protesters supported the New Zealand team against Iran and also waved Israeli flags and chanted slogans in favor of Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the last Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.[151][149] Similar clashes occurred during the match against Belgium, where protesters scuffled with fans carrying the current flag of Iran; however, security had been increased ahead of the game.[152] During Iran's final group match against Egypt in Seattle, protesters showed up outside of the stadium carrying the Lion and Sun flag.[153]
Iran war impact
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 a war against Iran. In retaliation, Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel, American-aligned Arab countries, and U.S. bases. FIFA stated that it was monitoring the situation and was focused on getting all countries to participate, despite reports suggesting Iran might not take part.[154][155][156] According to The Guardian, if Iran were to withdraw, either intercontinental playoff participant Iraq or the United Arab Emirates, the last Asian Football Confederation team eliminated from the qualifiers, could be likely beneficiaries, replacing Iran in Group G.[157][158] FIFA warned that Iran could face fines and a ban from future competitions should it withdraw from the tournament.[159] However, on March 10, Iran hinted that it might do so due to the risk of defections by players, similar to the women's team during the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia.[160] Following a meeting with U.S. 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".[161] In a post on Truth Social, Trump later added that, while the team was welcome, he did not believe it would be "appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety".[162] In response, Iran asked FIFA to remove the United States as tournament host, referring to Trump's statement that the Iranian team's safety could not be guaranteed.[163][164]
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".[165][166] 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.[167] However, FIFA denied Iran's request to move its matches and said the schedule would go ahead as planned.[168] 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 rested 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.[167]
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.[169] In April 2026, Trump envoy suggested that Italy should take Iran's spot in the World Cup, according to the Financial Times.[170] However, FIFA president Infantino confirmed Iran's participation, stating: "The Iranian team is coming, for sure."[171][172] In May 2026, Iran announced its demands for attending the World Cup, which included visa guarantees for players, staff, journalists, and fans without further questioning by immigration authorities, security guarantees for players and staff, and "respectful" treatment of the Iranian flag, symbols, and national anthem. Requests were also made for any press conference featuring the Iranian team to exclude questions unrelated to the game.[173]
On May 16, 2026, FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafström met with Iranian Football Federation officials in Istanbul to offer reassurance over Iran's participation in the World Cup, following concerns about the team's ability to enter the United States due to the war with Iran. Earlier, Iranian FA President Mehdi Taj had been refused entry to Canada for the FIFA Congress due to his links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the U.S. and Canada classified as a terrorist entity. FIFA confirmed it was working with relevant authorities to ensure all teams could compete in a safe environment without discrimination.[174] On May 19, the Iran national team reached Istanbul to start its training camp for the World Cup. It was later confirmed that Iran would play a friendly in Turkey against the Gambia before the start of the tournament.[175][176] The Iranian Football Federation later announced that the national team's training camp for the World Cup had been moved from the United States (in Tucson, Arizona) to Tijuana, Mexico, due to security concerns, which received official approval from FIFA.[177] Iran's team received visas to enter the United States just ten days before its opening match against New Zealand, while some members of its coaching and administrative staff had not received visas, according to the Fars News Agency. The U.S. State Department considered these individuals to be linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[178] Later, the Football Federation of Iran announced that its ticket allocation for the tournament had been revoked just days before the start, leaving fans who had already finalized their travel arrangements unable to attend their team's matches.[179]
Incidents during the tournament
When the team arrived, players wore pins with the number 168, representing the number of victims killed in the 2026 Minab school attack.[180] Iranian players including Mehdi Taremi and Alireza Jahanbakhsh also expressed concerns over visa delays and restrictions, stating that the United States entry policies created additional uncertainty and logistical difficulties for the team ahead of the tournament.[181] Celebrations by members of the Iran national team during their 2–2 draw against the New Zealand national team in Los Angeles generated controversy. After scoring Iran's second goal, midfielder Mohammad Mohebi performed a gesture simulating the firing of guns, which many observers on social media interpreted as a political message amid the ongoing war involving Iran and the United States. Mohebi later stated that the celebration had been spontaneous and was intended only for the fans. In the same match, teammate Ramin Rezaeian made a separate gesture that he acknowledged carried a political meaning, although he declined to elaborate further. The celebrations sparked widespread debate online and prompted criticism from some commentators and supporters.[182]
Following that match, Iran was reportedly ordered by U.S. officials to return to their training camp in Tijuana immediately, rather than the following day as was previously planned, amidst political protests outside the stadium.[183] The single-entry visa of winger Mahdi Torabi, an unused substitute in the match, was expired immediately after he left the United States for Tijuana.[184] The FFIRI later negotiated with FIFA and a multi-entry visa for Torabi was reissued for Iran's next match against Belgium.[184] Later, the FFIRI lodged an official complaint to FIFA for travel restrictions on team members.[185] Following the conclusion of their second match against Belgium, Iran's delegation left a handwritten note in the dressing room at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles which referenced "peace" and expressed gratitude for the host city. The message stated that the team had competed "with honor" and would leave "with dignity," while also wishing that "peace, respect, and friendship prevail among all nations."[186]
On June 23, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that it would ease travel restrictions for Iran's national team during the World Cup, allowing them to enter the United States two days before their scheduled match against Egypt in Seattle instead of the previously stricter timeline.[187] The policy came a week after signing the Islamabad Memorandum to end the Iran war.[188] Following Iran's third group-stage match, team captain Mehdi Taremi criticized FIFA for what he called a "disaster" tournament, saying the organization had failed to fix serious off-pitch problems such as constant travel between the United States and Mexico, lack of proper recovery time, and missing staff due to visa issues.[189] Upon Iran's elimination from the World Cup, the Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he was very happy that the team had been knocked out and that their visas had been revoked, adding that he was glad they were no longer on U.S. soil and that he may have even sung a song or done a "happy dance" in celebration.[190]
Impact on Iraq
The war also significantly impacted Iraq's logistical preparations for the intercontinental playoffs, in which the team needed 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.[191] 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.[192][193] 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.[194]
The Iraq Football Association (IFA) formally petitioned FIFA to postpone the playoff match, citing the impossibility of safe transit for the players and staff.[192] FIFA denied the request, citing the rigidity of the FIFA International Match Calendar, and instead proposed an alternative overland route through Turkey to Istanbul.[193] This proposal was rejected by the IFA and Arnold due to security concerns regarding repeated Iranian strikes in the Kurdistan region.[194] Amid these travel complications, the Mexican government maintained its commitment to the team's participation, working directly with the Iraqi Embassy in Mexico to finalize all documentation. On March 16, it was confirmed that FIFA would provide a chartered private jet to transport the Iraqi team to Mexico.[195] The original plan was for the team to fly on March 20 from Arar Domestic Airport in Saudi Arabia, near the Iraqi border, and arrive in Monterrey the next day, 10 days before the match.[196] However, further airspace closures in the area forced the 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.[197][198] On March 31, Iraq qualified for the World Cup after a 40-year absence by beating Bolivia 2–1 in the intercontinental playoff final.[199] This marked the longest qualifying campaign ever by a national team, spanning 21 matches over 28 months beginning in November 2023.[200]
Human rights and labor concerns
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 was 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 forced labor at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.[201] The Italian newspaper L'Espresso reported that Haitian and Venezuelan migrants were hired through subcontractors and were therefore not properly registered, which could result in their lacking social security coverage and other labor rights.[202]
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, involving shootouts, explosions, and the blocking of roads with burned-out vehicles, as well as arson attacks on various businesses, raising concerns about security during matches played in Guadalajara, Jalisco's largest city. Despite this, FIFA officials stated they had no intention of moving any matches, and the Mexican government reassured visitors that their security would be guaranteed.[203][204] In March 2026, Mexico announced that 100,000 troops would be deployed for security during the tournament.[205] The matches took place as scheduled with no reported altercations with CJNG members.[206]
Social protests
In Mexico City, before the inauguration match was scheduled to take place on June 11 at Estadio Azteca, several groups demonstrated in the city, including the National Educational Workers Coordination (CNTE), demanding that President Sheinbaum fulfill her campaign promise to reverse a 2007 pension and social security reform that they believed had adversely affected them. They also vandalized World Cup-related decorations and announced that they would protest during the opening match.[75] In the days that followed, other groups joined the protests held on the day of the opening match, including the Searching Mothers, retired Pemex and CFE employees, transport workers, farmers, healthcare workers, and groups protesting the gentrification of the city.[207] The city government further restricted access to the Zócalo, the city's main square, to prevent educational workers from entering it and disrupting the FIFA Fan Festival.[208] Days later, the government dispersed a demonstration attempting to access the square with tear gas.[209]
Concealment of poverty
In the state of Nuevo León, neighborhoods with impoverished homes were covered with billboards.[210] Governor Samuel García said he was already in "party mode" and would not address any problems or complaints during the World Cup.[211]
Training base issues
On the eve of the 2026 World Cup, Japan established a training base in Monterrey, Mexico, to acclimate to local weather conditions and conduct initial preparations. The team initially planned to hold its training sessions at the practice facility of Tigres UANL. However, due to the poor quality of the grass, the unevenness of the playing surface, and concerns about an increased risk of injury to players, the technical staff ultimately decided to change the training venue.[212][213]
Legal disputes at the Mexico City stadium
Following FIFA's requirement for total control over stadiums at host venues as part of its "clean venue" policy, Estadio Azteca was the source of disputes between the stadium's owner, Grupo Ollamani, and the owners of the stadium's luxury suites. When the stadium was built in the 1960s, the luxury suite owners obtained not only their spots but also rights and benefits, such as the ability to bring in food and beverages and to use parking for any event held there over a 99-year period. However, both Grupo Ollamani and FIFA denied the suite owners the right to obtain tickets at no cost, an issue that cost the group $62.4 million to guarantee access for the box seat owners.[214] In addition, the legal case remained unresolved, as FIFA successfully sued the box owners to prevent them from bringing in food and beverages and using the parking lot.[215]
Anti-doping controversy
Routine anti-doping tests detected traces of the banned substance clenbuterol in samples from eight members of the Tunisia national team. Following an investigation, authorities concluded that the positive tests were most likely the result of contaminated food consumed at the team's training base in Mexico rather than intentional doping, and no players were sanctioned.[216]
United States
Training base issues
Switzerland warned players and staff about the presence of rattlesnakes around its training base at the San Diego Jewish Academy in San Diego, marking nearby areas as a "snake area" and advising caution during training sessions.[217] Days before the tournament began, nine people sustained non-life-threatening injuries in a shooting near England's World Cup base camp in Kansas City, Missouri. The incident occurred several miles from the team's designated training facility, Swope Soccer Village, while the England squad was training in Florida and had not yet arrived at its tournament base.[218] Moreover, German midfielder Joshua Kimmich said players had encountered a venomous snake near Germany's training base in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and had been warned that a bite would require hospital treatment.[219]
Excessive security checks
On June 9, 2026, a major controversy erupted before the tournament as the Senegal and Uzbekistan national teams faced unusually strict security checks upon arriving in the United States. Senegal players underwent thorough individual searches immediately after disembarking from their plane, while the Uzbekistan delegation was inspected by police narcotics dogs before entering the stadium for a friendly match.[220][221] These intensive measures by U.S. authorities, one of the World Cup co-hosts, sparked widespread reactions on social media, with users saying the players were being "treated like criminals" and calling the incidents "shameful", "disgusting", and an "embarrassment".[222][223] In addition, the Uruguay national team also faced an excessive security check, while players' luggage were inspected by sniffer dogs.[224]
Labor disputes
Workers at SoFi Stadium, which hosted eight matches including the United States' opening game, voted 96 percent in favor of authorizing a strike in early June 2026 after working for a year without a contract. Unite Here Local 11, representing nearly 2,000 food service workers employed by Legends Hospitality, cited stalled negotiations over pay and safety protections related to potential ICE activity at the stadium. The union had asked FIFA and stadium operators to bar ICE from the venue and filed complaints with California regulators over FIFA's accreditation process, which collected workers' nationality and country of birth. A tentative agreement was reached on June 8, three days before the stadium's first match, preserving a contractual right for workers to strike if the union determined that federal immigration enforcement threatened worker safety during a match.[225][226]
Labor rights
In June 2026, Equidem published a report detailing that labor violations took place during the construction of Texas Health Mansfield Stadium in Mansfield, Texas, which would become the training base for the Czech Republic national team. Reportedly, some of the violations included exploitation, accountability gaps among subcontractors, and severe health risks related to excessive wet bulb globe temperature measurements. Working conditions took place under 96 °F (36 °C) weather and involved daily exposure to toxic silica dust and insulation materials.[227]
FIFA rules, officiating, and regulations
Modification of kits
Before the tournament, FIFA required the Haiti national team to alter its kit because it depicted the Battle of Vertières, citing equipment regulations prohibiting political, religious, or personal messages or slogans on team kits.[228][229]
Spanish language at press conferences
During the early days of the tournament, a Mexican reporter was prevented from asking Moroccan player Achraf Hakimi a question in Spanish at an official FIFA post-match press conference, after being told that Spanish-language interpretation was not available at the venue, although Hakimi, who was born and raised in Spain, could also speak the language.[230] At several press conferences, including those held with representatives of the Brazil and Morocco squads, accredited Spanish-speaking reporters were asked by FIFA moderators to switch to English in order to keep proceedings moving, citing the absence of simultaneous interpretation.[231] In some cases, questions were either turned away or translated unofficially by those present.[231]
Spanish is one of FIFA's seven official languages, alongside English, French, German, Arabic, Portuguese and Russian, as established by amendments to the FIFA Statutes in 2022.[232] FIFA had previously provided simultaneous interpretation in at least English, French, German, and Spanish at World Cup press events, with additional languages added based on the teams involved.[233] Mexico, one of the three co-hosts of the 2026 tournament, is the world's most populous Spanish-speaking country.[231] As of the opening days of the tournament, FIFA had not issued an official statement addressing the absence of Spanish interpretation at the affected venues.[231]
Shaun Evans hand gesture controversy
During the referee introductions before the June 14 group stage match between Germany and Curaçao, Australian VAR official Shaun Evans was seen on camera making an upside-down OK gesture, which, among other connotations, is sometimes associated with white supremacy.[234][235] While the Anti-Defamation League noted that "use of the okay symbol in most contexts is entirely innocuous and harmless", the symbol had been used by white supremacists on 4chan and spread in white power circles.[235] After investigating the incident, FIFA said that they found no evidence that Evans had intentionally made a racist hand gesture. In a statement released on June 15, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee confirmed that "after looking into the matter involving support video assistant referee Shaun Evans, it has found no evidence of breaches of the FIFA Disciplinary Code."[236]
Evans said that he did not intentionally perform the hand gesture, calling it a "subconscious twitch", while also saying "I would like to clarify that I did not intentionally make a hand gesture or symbol to communicate a message, affiliation, game or belief of any kind."[237] On June 16, Evans was officially cleared by FIFA of any wrongdoing, and was announced to be returning to duty for the June 21 match between New Zealand and Egypt.[237][238][239] In subsequent games after the incident, the VAR officials in the pre-match formalities were shown being at their monitors instead of posing for the camera. There was no official response from FIFA for this change.[234]
Officiating controversies
The tournament saw a number of contentious refereeing and VAR decisions. Qatar's Assim Madibo received an extended five-match ban for a challenge that broke the leg of Canada's Ismaël Koné, a punishment some commentators called excessive.[240] Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz criticized VAR for not intervening on two penalty-area incidents in a draw with England.[241] Germany's elimination on penalties to Paraguay followed a disallowed extra-time goal that head coach Julian Nagelsmann called "a joke", though FIFA defended the call.[242] Senegal were eliminated by a stoppage-time VAR penalty awarded to Belgium that critics argued should not have been given.[243] United States forward Folarin Balogun's VAR-reviewed red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina was widely called excessive and drew comparisons to a similar, uncarded challenge by Lionel Messi against Algeria.[244][245]
Further disputes followed in the knockout rounds. Portugal's win over Croatia involved a contested VAR penalty and a Croatia equalizer disallowed via FIFA's Connected Ball technology, prompting a formal complaint from the Croatian Football Federation.[246][247] France's physical win over Paraguay drew criticism of the referee's man-management,[248] and its aftermath included widely condemned racist remarks about Kylian Mbappé by a Paraguayan senator that prompted a French criminal investigation.[249] FIFA also suspended Folarin Balogun's one-match ban after his controversial red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing him to face Belgium, a decision praised in the United States but criticized abroad following Donald Trump's public call for a review.[250][251][252] England's Jarell Quansah received a two-match ban for a red card against Mexico, with a UK lawmaker unsuccessfully calling for it to be reconsidered in light of the Balogun precedent.[253] Argentina's comeback win over Egypt was marred by a disallowed Egyptian goal, an anti-racism gesture from coach Hossam Hassan, and an official Egyptian complaint alleging bias, which FIFA's refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina rejected.[254][255] Finally, an England equalizer against Norway was allowed to stand despite claims the ball had struck an overhead camera cable, which FIFA disputed using ball-tracking data.[256][257]
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, played on 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey and won 1–0 by Spain after extra time, included an officiating decision that drew the attention of the media. In the 82nd minute, Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández was given a yellow card for dissent after reacting angrily to referee Slavko Vinčić's decision to allow play to continue following contact from Spain's Rodri, with no free kick or card shown for the challenge.[258][259] In the third minute of first-half stoppage time, Fernández was given a second yellow card, and a resulting red card, for a late challenge on Spain's Pau Cubarsí while chasing a clearance, leaving Argentina to play the remainder of the match with ten men.[260][261][262] Spain went on to win the match 1–0 in extra time via a goal from substitute Ferran Torres, securing the country's second men's World Cup title.[263]
Racism and discrimination incidents
Racist comments against Kylian Mbappé
After the round of 16 tie between Paraguay and France, Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla made widely condemned comments on social media after Paraguay's elimination, in which she mocked French captain Kylian Mbappé's background and education in a racist and derogatory way.[264] Mbappé publicly condemned Amarilla as "despicable" and said she did not represent Paraguay, while the French Football Federation (FFF) denounced her remarks as racist and announced that it would file a criminal complaint with the French Public Prosecutor's Office.[265][266] Amarilla later acknowledged deleting a post after admitting she had reacted "with her blood boiling", while insisting her dispute was with Mbappé personally, not France, and continued to demand an apology, threatening legal action over what she described as political and gender-based violence.[267] Amarilla also defended her position by referencing the imprisonment of Ronaldinho in Paraguay in 2020, saying Mbappé should not underestimate Paraguayans, expressing her willingness to pursue legal action, and adding that she had also experienced racial discrimination while in Europe.[268][269]
French prosecutors later opened an investigation into the alleged racist abuse, with the Paris prosecutor's office stating that the remarks were allegedly made because of Mbappé's origin. The alleged offences could carry penalties of up to one year’s imprisonment and a €45,000 fine.[270] The United Nations human rights office condemned Amarilla's comments as "despicable" and called on states, sports organizations and social media platforms to take stronger action against racism, discrimination and hate speech in soccer.[271] The Paraguayan government condemned Amarilla's remarks, stating that they contradicted the country's values of human dignity, equality, and respect.[272] President of Paraguay Santiago Peña said Paraguay was "against all types of discrimination", stressing that Amarilla's comments represented her individual responsibility and not the position of the government or the country.[273] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that her comments reflected her individual responsibility and not the position of Paraguay, while reaffirming its opposition to racism and discrimination.[274] The Paraguayan Senate also condemned Amarilla's remarks, rejecting racism and discrimination while stating that her comments did not represent the chamber's position, or the views of most Paraguayans, according to Senate president Basilio Núñez.[275] Mbappé's club Real Madrid also condemned Amarilla's remarks, describing them as racist and xenophobic, expressing its full support for Mbappé, and stating that hate-inciting behaviour has no place in society or sport and that it would continue working to eradicate racism, xenophobia and violence from soccer.[276] During Paraguay's Judas Kái festival, an effigy bearing Mbappé's likeness was burned as part of the tradition of destroying figures representing controversial personalities.[277]
Egyptian team and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Following Egypt's round of 32 victory over Australia, Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan celebrated by waving a Palestinian flag and said he dedicated the victory to both the Egyptian and Palestinian people.[278][279] FIFA told The Guardian that the display of the flag was permitted because Palestine was one of its 211 member associations, prompting criticism from some Israeli circles.[280][278] The incident reportedly influenced an Argentine fan to wave an Israeli flag in front of Hassan after Egypt's defeat to Argentina in the following round.[279][281] Hassan appeared to approach the fan waving the Israeli flag before spitting in the direction of the flag, prompting security staff to restrain him.[278][279]
Pride Match (Egypt vs Iran)
Prior to the match draw, Seattle's local organizing committee (without FIFA endorsement) announced that it would promote the June 26 match as a "Pride Match". However, the draw resulted the match featuring Egypt and Iran, two countries where homosexuality is punishable by law.[282] This drew controversy as Iran and Egypt attempted to get the pro-LGBTQ aspects of the match cancelled while the organizing committee stated that "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."[283][284][285] People in rainbow attire and/or with pride flags and protestors against the Iranian government as well as the criminalization of homosexuality were present at and around the match.[286]
Mexican racist gesture towards South Korean fan
During the June 11 match between South Korea and the Czech Republic, a Mexican man was filmed making a racist gesture towards a South Korean fan in the stands.[287][288] The fan, Yoon Su Jin, a Korean YouTuber who also went by the name "Ino Cat", posted a video of the incident on social media, and it quickly went viral. Yoon made a post on Instagram in which she thanked her fans for their support,[289] and said, "You travelled across the world for the World Cup ... and experienced racism."[287] The Mexican man was later identified as Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes, who was reported to have lost his job at an engineering firm soon after the match.[288] On June 14, Bernal posted a public apology on social media, acknowledging that the video had circulated widely and "generated a wide range of reactions".[290] Yoon was invited by FIFA to attend the June 18 match between South Korea and Mexico.[289][291]
Online racist abuse against players
Following the Netherlands' elimination from the tournament after a penalty shoot-out loss to Morocco, several Dutch players, including Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber, and Crysencio Summerville, who all failed to convert their penalties, were subjected to racist abuse on social media platforms.[292][293] The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) described the abuse as "terrible" and said that, "racism and discrimination had no place in football, on the internet, or in society", and that it would file complaints with Meld.Online Discriminatie, the dedicated Dutch reporting hub for racist and hateful content found online. Dutch Minister for Sport Mirjam Sterk also condemned the abuse as "deeply regrettable" and said cases could be referred to police for investigation.[294]
Reports also circulated online claiming the existence of a formal petition targeting migrant-background German national team players following their elimination against Paraguay, which were later debunked as misinformation.[295]
IShowSpeed racism controversy
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During the July 3 round of 32 match between Argentina and Cape Verde at Miami Stadium, streamer and internet personality IShowSpeed was the target of racist chants heard in certain sections of the crowd.[296] Speed had been streaming live from the match while wearing a Cape Verde jersey, when fans wearing Argentina shirts started surrounding him. A fan near Speed in the stands allegedly used a racial slur and told him to "go home". Another fan was heard telling him to "go cry at the zoo" in Spanish.[297] After initially responding to the fans, Speed ignored them and continued watching the match.[298][299] Footage of the incident went viral on social media and prompted FIFA to issue a condemnation statement.[300][297] On July 6, FIFA launched an investigation into the incident after they became aware of an "alleged incident of racist abuse."[301] FIFA said that it "strongly condemns racism, hate and discrimination in all forms" on a statement released on July 7 on the social media platform X.[302] The incident fueled online discourse about the history of racism in Argentina.[303]
In a different incident, which occurred during the July 7 round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt, a fan in the stands appeared to be making monkey gestures at Speed, who was seated in the front row directly behind the Egyptian net.[304] In an X post written in Spanish, the fan, posting under the name Micha, denied allegations of racism and said he had been attempting to mimic a gesture Speed made earlier in the match when he was attempting to distract Argentina's Lionel Messi during a penalty kick.[305][304]
Tournament expansion
The tournament expansion and qualifying spots allocation was a target of polemics. UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin reportedly called the expansion "unnecessary" and said that it would fill the tournament with "useless games". Thirteen qualified teams from both Asia and Africa quickly rebutted the UEFA president with an official statement, stating that for their countries, "there is no such thing as an unimportant World Cup match," and that "football does not belong to a select group of nations; we believe every nation that qualifies deserves respect. Every team has earned its place on merit. Every supporter has the right to dream. Every match carries meaning for millions of people around the world." The federations also mentioned that the impact of a World Cup qualification included the "acceleration football development", praising the impact of the expanded World Cup providing more opportunities to smaller nations.[306] Four-time champions Italy had failed to qualify for the tournament, having finished second in their qualifying group to Norway before losing the play-off final to Bosnia and Herzegovina 4–1 on penalties after a 1–1 draw, with some fans and journalists[who?] calling for a spot for Italy instead of smaller nations.[307][308]
A 2023 FIFA revision to the group stage format was criticized for its perceived excessive length (72 group stage matches, up from 48 in the original expansion proposal) and for lacking in jeopardy, as only 16 teams would be eliminated before the knockout stage.[309][310][311] In The Athletic, Michael Cox wrote that "on average — there simply isn't a huge amount of meaning in any individual group stage match. ... there is a danger that the group stage will feel more like a qualification phase than a proper World Cup."[312] Despite said remarks, the 2026 World Cup proceeded with 48 teams distributed in 12 groups, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino claiming that the following tournament might even consist of 64 teams.[313]
Fan violence, riots, and crowd incidents
Attack on buses in New York City by Knicks fans
Following the New York Knicks winning the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026, fans of the team attacked shuttle buses transporting spectators from MetLife Stadium following the Brazil vs Morocco match. Knicks fans forced nine shuttle buses to be abandoned, and destroyed five, with one bus being set on fire.[314] No reports of injuries to spectators were reported.[315]
Clashes between Argentine and Algerian supporters
On June 16, clashes broke out between supporters of Argentina and Algeria in New York City's Times Square ahead of the teams' opening match. Videos circulating on social media showed groups of fans exchanging punches and kicks before police intervened to restore order. According to the New York City Police Department, one person was taken into custody and issued a summons for disorderly conduct, while no injuries were reported. The incident was widely reported as one of the first major episodes of fan violence during the tournament.[316][317]
Fan behavior in Mexico
Across Mexico, in the wake of the national team's ongoing successful World Cup campaign, there were reports of fans shaking vehicles, and on several occasions drivers accelerated and ran over fans, injuring several people.[318][319] On June 24, in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, a driver who was traveling with his family ran over 17 people after his vehicle was shaken. As he attempted to flee, he crashed the vehicle and was subsequently attacked by the fans.[320] The driver died in the hospital from serious injuries he sustained in the incident a week later.[321]
It was reported that fans had left large amounts of trash in the streets of Mexico. Along Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City, a common gathering place for celebrations due to the Angel of Independence monument, damage was reported to the avenue's greenery. Bus shelters along Line 7 of the Metrobús, which ran along the avenue, were also damaged. Several fans were photographed urinating on posters of missing persons at the Glorieta de las y los Desaparecidos.[322] A group of Mexican fans verbally harassed madres buscadoras, assaulted a journalist defending them, and, during rain-soaked celebrations, used banners bearing photographs of missing persons to shield themselves from the rain.[323]
Mexico vs Czech Republic
During Mexico's group stage match against the Czech Republic on June 24, Mexican fans reportedly chanted ¡puto!, a homophobic refrain that had caused problems for the team and the federation over the past 25 years, and had previously resulted in fines and partial stadium closures.[324][325]
Mexico vs Ecuador
Ahead of Mexico's round of 32 encounter against Ecuador, Mexican fans gathered outside Ecuador's team hotel in Mexico City during the night and used horns, loudspeakers, and motorcycles in an attempt to disturb the players' sleep before the match. The tactic, known as a "hotel serenade", is a controversial but common tradition in Latin American soccer, often used to disrupt visiting teams' preparation.[326] In response, the Ecuadorian Football Federation filed a formal complaint with World Cup organizers, stating that the behavior went against principles of fair play and affected player recovery and preparation. Ecuador also faced a difficult arrival in Mexico City, with travel delays, a long transfer from the airport, and heavy traffic adding to the disruption before the match.[327] Following the match, Ecuadorian journalists from Teleamazonas reported being targeted by Mexican supporters in the stands while broadcasting live from the Estadio Azteca. Journalist José Carlos Crespo was struck in the face by a cup of beer after supporters allegedly threw objects toward the press area despite repeated requests for police intervention.[328] After Mexico's victory in the match, four people reportedly died during celebrations in Mexico City in the early morning hours of July 1, three of them from asphyxiation.[329]
Mexico vs England
Ahead of England's round of 16 match against Mexico, the English camp took additional precautions during their stay in Mexico City amid concerns that they could be subjected to similar disturbances seen in Mexico's match against Ecuador. To minimize any disruption, England kept the location of their hotel confidential where possible, and provided players and staff with sleep aids, including earplugs, sleep bands, natural remedies, and white noise machines. Due to the multiple deaths attributed to the poor civil protection measures observed during the match against Ecuador, in which more than one million people gathered along Paseo de la Reforma, the Mexico City government increased the installation of more television screens along Paseo de la Reforma, as well as on the adjacent Avenida de los Insurgentes and Avenida Chapultepec; increased the number of police officers; limited the access to the Angel of Independence roundabout; restricted access to areas with high concentrations of people; and restricted the sale of alcoholic beverages. The nearby metro stations Chapultepec, Sevilla, and Insurgentes were also closed.[330][331][332] In Guadalajara and Monterrey, similar meassures were applied.[333][334]
England's preparations were disrupted by heavy crowd presence outside their Mexico City hotel, where supporters gathered on arrival and police and National Guard units were deployed to maintain security. England were reportedly met with boos and chants as the team arrived, reflecting heightened tension around visiting teams in the city.[335] Preparations were further complicated when FIFA briefly considered moving the kick-off time due to a forecast of severe weather, a proposal that was later dropped after objections from both the English Football Association and the Mexican Football Federation. The fixture ultimately remained scheduled as originally planned, but the uncertainty added to a disrupted build-up.[336] Heavy overnight "serenades" outside the England hotel saw supporters using horns, loudspeakers, and fireworks in an attempt to disturb the team's sleep, despite a significant police presence.[337] The England team bus was also sprayed with foam by fans on arrival at the stadium, before the match was ultimately delayed by approximately one hour due to severe weather conditions.[338][339]
Croatia fan reactions to disallowed goal
After Croatia's stoppage-time equaliser against Portugal in the round of 32 was disallowed following a lengthy VAR check, Croatian fans, who were concentrated on the south end of the Toronto Stadium where the would-be tying goal crossed the line, started throwing plastic bottles and other debris onto the pitch, delaying the restart of the game. The fans booed as players from both teams helped remove the objects from the field.[340][341]
Moroccan fan assaulted in Lille
On July 6 in Lille, France, a Moroccan woman wearing a Morocco national team shirt was assaulted by local youths. The incident occurred during street celebrations following Morocco's victory over Canada.[342]
German fan assaulted in Toronto
On June 20, Alex Alber, a German national visiting for the World Cup, was attacked by a group of young men at a popular bar in downtown Toronto. The attack left Alber’s German jersey stained with blood, and he was taken to a nearby hospital where he received stitches. According to Alber, the confrontation started when one of the men asked him about a rainbow-colored fan he was holding, prompting concerns about whether the attack was motivated by homophobia.[343][344]
Swedish fan killed at Copenhagen fan zone
On June 30, Christian Zedig, a 32-year-old Swedish citizen and off-duty officer of the Swedish Police Authority, was fatally assaulted at a World Cup fan zone in Copenhagen's Islands Brygge district, where a crowd had gathered to watch the round of 32 match between Norway and the Ivory Coast on a public screen, ahead of Sweden's own match against France later that evening.[345] According to Danish prosecutors, an altercation broke out during a goal celebration, during which Zedig was punched and suffered severe injuries; he later died in a hospital.[345]
A suspect in his 30s surrendered to Copenhagen Police on July 3 after authorities released his photograph and appealed for information; he was remanded in custody for 26 days pending investigation and denied wrongdoing.[345] The killing prompted expressions of condolence from Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and from Zedig's colleagues in the Höglandet police district, where a memorial gathering was held.[345] Copenhagen's mayor for children and youth, Jakob Næsager, called for public World Cup screenings at Islands Brygge to be cancelled following the attack.[346]
Argentina fans throw beer at Egypt fans
During Argentina's round of 16 match against Egypt, after Argentinian player Lionel Messi leveled the score in the 83rd minute, Argentina fans reportedly began hurling beer and taunting Egypt fans. Videos uploaded onto social media platforms showed fans telling supporters of Egypt to "Go. Go. Go. Dale. Arriba. (Come on. Get up.)" after the final whistle.[347][348]
Fan brawl at National Mall
On July 6, during the United States' match against Belgium, a large fight broke out at the designated FIFA "Fan Zone" at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. According to a video filmed by a news crew, the fight started as an argument between two people "before more spectators joined in and began throwing water bottles."[349] The United States Park Police said that one person was escorted from the venue. No information about possible injuries related to the altercation was released.[350]
Assault of Toronto Police Officers
During the June 12 match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, two German nationals sitting in the Bosnia and Herzegovina fan section were arrested after two Toronto Police Service officers had objects thrown at them while responding to an altercation between fans in the section. The two German nationals, 25-year-old Emir Colic and 27-year-old Eldar Grabovac, were both charged with assault of a peace officer, and both officers were treated for minor injuries.[351][352]
Riots in Europe after Morocco defeat
After Morocco lost their quarterfinal match against France, there were reports of riots and other crime in several European cities. In London, England, there were clashes between crowds, resulting in police officers getting injured. Most of the unrest in London occurred near Edgware Road, an area of the city with a large Muslim population. Supporters were reported to be disrupting traffic and surrounded officers sent to the area. In footage shared on social media, there was “flares, thick smoke, objects being thrown, and riot police units advancing with shields between police vehichles.” One Metropolitan Police officer was reported to have suffered head injuries and had to be hospitalised after being struck with a glass bottle. The British Police reported that at least four people had been arrested relating to these incidents.[353]
More disorder was reported in Düsseldorf, Germany, where it was reported that about 1,500 Morocco supporters had gathered near the central railway station. According to police, the atmosphere was initially peaceful but later turned aggressive. Three police officers were injured after fans threw firecrackers and glass bottles at them. Two men were arrested and several criminal investigations were opened.[353] Disorder was also reported in the Netherlands, where riot police were deployed to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague, after Morocco supporters remained in the streets following their country’s defeat. In Amsterdam, eight people were arrested for “public order offences” including one man who reportedly threw a brick at a police officer.[353] In The Hague, fans threw bottles and pyrotechnics at officers.[354] Moroccan fans in the Netherlands were also reported to have been chanting antisemitic and homophobic slogans after the match.[355][356][357]
Falkland Islands banner post-match
After Argentina beat England 2–1 in the semifinals, Argentine players were shown displaying a banner stating that "Las Malvinas Son Argentinas" ("The Falklands Are Argentine"), referencing the Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute.[358] Ed Davey, leader of the United Kingdom's Liberal Democrats, called for the players in question to be banned, comparing it to an incident when Spanish players had been banned by UEFA after chants about Gibraltar following the Euro 2024 final.[359] FIFA had previously, in 2014, fined the Argentine Football Association 30,000 Swiss francs for displaying a similar banner before a friendly match.[360]
Riots in Buenos Aires after the World Cup final
After Argentina's loss to Spain in the World Cup final, fans gathered at the Obelisk of Buenos Aires to support the team,[361] though celebrations were marred by riots in which supporters threw stones, glass bottles, and other objects at police, who used water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets. At least fifteen people were arrested by the Argentine Federal Police, with dozens of bystanders injured.[362]
Player and media controversies
Granit Xhaka reaction controversy
Following Switzerland's 4–1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Swiss captain Granit Xhaka became the subject of criticism for what USA Today described as "toxic rumors" due to a hand gesture he made while on the field after scoring a late penalty goal.[363] It was reportedly in response to previous allegations of creating a toxic environment, with Xhaka saying, "They know why I did it," after the match.[364]
Criticism of photographers' positioning during national anthems
Several national team managers criticised the positioning of photographers during national anthems at matches. England manager Thomas Tuchel said that the number of photographers placed in front of the benches prevented him from seeing his players during the anthem, while Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann also criticised their proximity, joking that he felt as though the photographers were "taking pictures of the hairs in my nose". Both managers called on FIFA to reconsider the placement of photographers during pre-match ceremonies.[365] Due to the complaints, FIFA agreed to move the positions of the photographers for all subsequent pre-match national anthem performances.[366]
Uruguay coach media incidents
Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa was involved in two media-related incidents during the tournament. The first came during his official FIFA photoshoot, where his portrait showing him with his head bowed and eyes downcast drew attention and criticism on social media. Bielsa responded by stating he was "no model" and did not need to justify the pose, adding that there was nothing unusual about wearing glasses or looking down.[367][368] The second occurred after Uruguay's elimination against Spain, when Bielsa was filmed becoming frustrated while waiting for a live post-match TV interview. Reports stated the delay was caused by brief camera setup adjustments, during which he reportedly shouted "¡Dale de una vez!" ("Hurry up") before the interview began.[369][370] He later apologized for his reaction and for the earlier photoshoot controversy, describing his conduct as inappropriate and driven by frustration.[371]
KFA defeat and corruption investigations
Following South Korea's surprise World Cup group stage elimination thanks to a defeat against South Africa,[372] South Korean president Lee Jae Myung called for an investigation into the Korea Football Association (KFA).[373] Hong Myung-bo's re-appointment as South Korea head coach in 2024 was met with allegations of favoritism, with the sports ministry calling for a review of the process at the time.[374][373] Hong and KFA president Chung Mong-gyu both resigned from their positions shortly after the team's elimination.[375] Chung submitted his formal resignation letter earlier in the day after presiding over his final meeting with senior executives at Korea Football Park in Cheonan.[376]
Alexi Lalas "free soccer" controversy
On July 3, after the United States defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, American commentator and former national team player Alexi Lalas was asked on X for his opinion on whether the American "pay to play" system was ruining youth soccer in America.[377][non-primary source needed] Lalas responded with a post saying "Sure. Pay to play is not ruining youth soccer. Millions benefit. It's a business catering to a market willing to pay for the product. Soccer (like piano lessons) is not an inalienable right. Free soccer costs money. Someone has to pay. So who will pay for all this free soccer?"[378] After the United States lost to Belgium in the round of 16, Lalas made another post about his opinion on free soccer, saying "I’d love if soccer was free to all. But who is going to pay for all this free soccer?"[378] His comments drew widespread debate and discourse around the soccer world,[378] with one critic posting "Youth sports should not be a business",[379] to which Lalas directly responded "So they should be taxpayers funded government entities or charities?"[378][380]
On The Dan Patrick Show, Entertainment Tonight host Kevin Frazier and producer Seton O’Connor both used their platforms to challenge Lalas' stance.[381][382][383] O’Connor said "Why do companies think that buying 30 seconds of advertising creates more value than building the next generation of players? I feel like that’s something that a proud American and a proud capitalist who also loves soccer, like Alexi Lalas, could speak to."[384][385] Lalas was labelled as "part of the problem" of why the United States men's national team had underperformed on the world stage.[386]
Leandro Paredes' physical altercation against Spain national team
Following the full time whistle in the World Cup final, Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes was involved in an altercation where he pushed Spain players Eric García and then unused substitute Gavi; Paredes was initially sent off for a red card for his altercation before it was overturned altogether, which meant he had to leave the field before the medal ceremony. FIFA confirmed it would investigate Argentina over post-game scenes described as “shocking and disgraceful” following the match in New Jersey.[387][388][389][390] In the days that followed, the teams attempted to tone the incident down, with Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala apologizing and Gavi speaking against possible suspensions for his rivals.[391]
Alleged hate campaign against Argentina
Argentine media reported that an online hate campaign[392] was waged against their national team during the World Cup. Allegedly started by paid accounts based in Russia,[393] it quickly snowballed after the round of 16,[394][395][396] leading to cases of harrasment[397] of Argentinians living in Spain in the days before the final and even cases of assault.[398][399]
Some of the celebrities that helped spread this campaign in social media later apologized, clarifying that their comments were motivated by the actions of the current Argentine administration, rather than against the nation as a whole.[400]
Cristiano Ronaldo social media controversy
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo ignited a social media controversy following the World Cup final, after screenshots circulated showing his verified Instagram account "liking" a Spanish media video from Espejo público that accused FIFA of systemic corruption and favoritism towards Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team.[401][402]
Legal issues
StubHub ticket cancellations controversy
During the tournament, American ticket reselling platform StubHub was widely criticized following multiple reports that fans had their resale tickets cancelled shortly before matches, even though they were purchased weeks or months in advance. Affected customers claimed they could not enter the games, and were offered refunds, or even "store credit", rather than alternative tickets. The issue resulted in a class-action lawsuit against the company.[403][404][405]
Dallas mural lawsuit
In June 2026, marine artist Robert Wyland filed a $25 million lawsuit against FIFA after his iconic "Whaling Wall 82 / Ocean Life" mural in downtown Dallas was painted over to make room for World Cup advertisements. Wyland's mural, which had originally been painted in 1999 to raise awareness about ocean pollution, had been mostly painted over by May 18.[406] Wyland's legal team cited the Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA), a U.S. copyright law that protected prominent public art from unauthorised destruction or defacement.[407] According to an official statement, "FIFA has no involvement in this whatsoever and refers all inquiries on this matter to the host city committee."[408][407] Wyland said he was "shocked" when he learned that FIFA would be whitewashing the mural, and called the impending lawsuit "a David and Goliath thing for sure".[409]
Usage of Persona characters by Croatia
In a social media post celebrating the Croatia national soccer team's 1–0 win over Panama on June 23, the Croatian Football Federation posted an image that included the characters Joker and Morgana from the Persona video game series. This led Atlus, the copyright holders of the Persona characters, to open an investigation into the matter, but the issue was eventually settled out of court.[410]
Prohibited items policy
A request for an emergency temporary restraining order (TRO) was filed[by whom?] in California against FIFA's ban on political symbols, which prevented fans from bringing flags—including the Lion and Sun flag—at SoFi Stadium. The case was dismissed without any TRO being issued.[411]
FBI investigations on Argentine Football Association
On July 8, 2026, Argentine newspaper La Nación reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), together with U.S. federal prosecutors, was conducting a preliminary investigation into the Argentine Football Association (AFA) over suspected money laundering and fraud. The investigation reportedly focused on financial operations involving the commercial rights of the Argentina national team, including the alleged diversion of millions of U.S. dollars through Florida-based companies. According to the report, investigators were examining transactions totaling approximately US$300 million, including more than US$42 million alleged to have been improperly diverted, although no criminal charges had been announced.[412][413][414]
California Attorney General inquiry
On May 13, California attorney general Rob Bonta sent a letter to FIFA regarding his concerns about potentially misleading ticketing practices relating to the upcoming World Cup, as they may have violated California's strict consumer protection laws. In a statement, Bonta said "Californians deserve transparency and fairness when purchasing tickets for any event held in our state. Californians should be able to trust that the seats they purchase match the representations made during the sales process. We look forward to receiving the requested information from FIFA as part of our ongoing review." Bonta requested various information about ticket sales for World Cup games in California to assess whether any state laws may have been violated.[415]
DOJ Mass Piracy Takedown (Operation Offsides)
On June 26, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the seizure of nearly 400 internet domains that were being used to illegally stream World Cup matches. The websites were identified to be providing visitors with unauthorized real-time streams of World Cup matches in direct violation of U.S. copyright law.[416][417] Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division confirmed in a statement that the DOJ had "seized hundreds of domains, used to illegally stream World Cup matches for profit, to disrupt the international networks that profit from the global popularity of the World Cup."[418]
The actions were taken by U.S. coordination with international partners through the International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (ICHIP) Network, with authorities reported to be targeting servers and domains located in Peru, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Poland, and Colombia.[416] U.S. authorities provided information to national law enforcement agencies to assist them in identifying seized domains. FIFA also provided assistance to international agents, as well as corporations such as NBCUniversal, beIN Media Group, the Motion Picture Association's Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and Warner Bros.[416] According to Director Ivan J. Arvelo of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, "Through Operation Offsides and strong partnerships with law enforcement and the private sector, we identified and seized hundreds of domains, disrupting those who steal and distribute copyrighted content. Our ongoing efforts ensure that the excitement of the World Cup reaches fans through legitimate, secure channels."[417] The Justice Department also published an infographic that was displayed on removed piracy sites, which read "This website has been seized by law enforcement authorities as part of Operation Offsides, a coordinated global effort led by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center with international law enforcement and private sector partners. This action was taken to protect consumers and enforce intellectual property rights worldwide."[416][419][420]
Less than a week later, The Athletic reported that 1,376 illegal World Cup streaming sites had their advertising revenue cut off, a move led by the non-profit Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG), which worked with its partners to create a "pirate domain exclusion list" of illegal sites, which it shared with digital advertising companies to block the distribution of funds to those sites.[421] According to a report published by SatNews, the DOJ relied on public-private data sharing model to identify illegal piracy websites. Additional resources such as network mapping, signal telemetry, and proprietary tracking data were also provided by international anti-piracy coalitions.[422] An analysis of the seized server connections published by the DOJ noted that visitors to the sites were frequently exposed to unencrypted connections, deceptive advertising redirects, browser hijacking scripts, and banking trojans potentially collecting user data.[422][423]
Security incidents and threats
Theft of sporting equipment
On June 13, the England national team reported the theft of part of its sporting equipment during its transfer from West Palm Beach, Florida to its base camp in Kansas City, Missouri. The stolen items reportedly included cleats belonging to players such as Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon, as well as official match balls, analytical materials and essential technical equipment used by the coaching staff in their daily work, which had an estimated value of US$18,000.[424][425] Two men were charged, and the majority of what was stolen was recovered by the police.[426][427]
Egypt hotel security incident
A security incident occurred at Westin Hotel in Arlington, Texas, ahead of Egypt's round of 32 match against Australia. A Dallas police officer pushed Egypt assistant coach Ibrahim Hassan and another member of the delegation, who were not wearing credentials, away from Egyptian player Trézéguet, who was taking pictures with a young fan.[428][429] This led to a brief verbal exchange with the police officer. The situation was quickly de-escalated on site, and the Egyptian Football Association later confirmed that the matter was minor, with team preparations continuing as normal.[430] Dallas police said they had responded to a hotel security request after an individual without event credentials attempted to gain access, and later expressed appreciation to the Egyptian delegation by presenting a gold World Cup security badge.[431]
Armed attack in Yautepec
An armed attack occurred at a multi-use sports field in Yautepec, Morelos, Mexico, during an event organized to broadcast the round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador. Three people were killed, and nine others injured, including mayoral pre-candidate Sandra Fernández Gómez.[432]
Bomb threat at MetLife Stadium
On July 5, during the round of 16 match between Brazil and Norway, two individuals, including 26-year-old Amar Ramkissoon, threatened to blow up the area in which the individual sent a text message to FIFA around 4:15 p.m. ET. Authorities quickly tracked the threat, and were later arrested and charged after a text message threatened to "blow up" a World Cup match at MetLife Stadium, leading New Jersey State Police to charge Ramkissoon with creating a false public alarm and making terroristic threats. The threat ultimately did not disrupt the match.[433][434]
Drone controversies
On July 18, The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) claimed it had seized more than 700 illegal drones — and detected almost 1,600 in total — around the eleven stadiums in the United States during the World Cup. The agency added in a statement on its website that the threat of drones was "a growing problem at special events", which is why it said it had put in place the "most comprehensive airspace security and drone mitigation effort in U.S. history".[435]
For the World Cup, security forces established "no-drone zones" of a three nautical-mile radius and 3,000 feet above ground level around stadiums, unless otherwise authorised by air traffic control. Those who flew drones into restricted airspace faced fines of up to US$100,000, confiscation of equipment, and criminal charges, according to the FBI.[436]
The FBI worked with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to enforce temporary flight restrictions (TFRs), using federally authorized capabilities to detect, track, and assess unauthorized drone activity, with personnel from both agencies deployed full-time to identify drone activity that could threaten aviation safety, critical infrastructure, or publicity safety out or around event venues. Before every flight, drone operators were meant to check for active flight restrictions using an FAA-approved B4UFLY service providers.[436]
Below were the TFRs established for Philadelphia events:
- Within a 3 Nautical Mile Radius (NMR) and up to 3,000 feet above ground level, unless otherwise authorized by ATC, all aircraft operations were prohibited in the vicinity of the Philadelphia Stadium on June 14, 19, 22, 25, 27, and July 4.
- Within a 1 Nautical Mile Radius (NMR) and up to 1,000 feet above ground level, unless otherwise authorized, all UAS operations were prohibited in the vicinity of Lemon Hill Park from June 11 to 30, and July 1 to 19.[437][436]
Andrew Giuliani, executive director for the White House World Cup Task Force, told The Athletic prior to the tournament that "drones getting above players or fans" was "an emerging threat" that organisers had prepared for long in advance of the World Cup. He said that some who had violated the temporary flight restrictions — underpinned by the Safer Skies Act, which was brought in last year — may have simply been "putting it up to go and take a look at the tailgate... but that obviously takes resources away in case there are potentially evildoers that are doing that."[435]
Counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) were installed around venues, including at MetLife Stadium, the host of the final. The ‘C-UAS Fly Away Kit’ at MetLife was manufactured by defence company Anduril and comprised a launch box, communication tower, and 360-degree electro-optical/infrared visual detection and camera system.
In another incident, law enforcement officials confiscated over 700 devices nationwide across American host cities, including 95 in Atlanta and 94 in North Texas.[438][439] The enforcement led to federal criminal charges and civil penalties for operators violating strict temporary flight restrictions, and was also used as a counter measure against piracy streaming services.[440][441][436][442][443]
