1. Isn’t football’s governing body FIFA supposed to be politically neutral?

In the months leading up to the 2026 World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino got unusually cozy with US President Donald Trump.

This included sitting on a stage wearing a red USA baseball cap during the president’s Board of Peace meeting, and presenting Trump with the newly created “FIFA Peace Prize” during the World Cup draw.

According to its own statutes, FIFA is supposed to be politically neutral. However, Infantino has created the impression that he is deliberately mixing international sports politics with the interests of a state.

The fact that the United States is at war with Iran is a first; never before has a World Cup host nation been engaged in a military conflict with one of the participating teams.

2. Shouldn’t all fans be able to attend their team’s games?

US entry regulations are also drawing sharp criticism. Tightened visa rules mean fans from several participating nations are effectively barred from attending. For Iran and Haiti, a complete entry ban applies to spectators — only the teams and their support staff are allowed to enter the country.

It will also be virtually impossible for fans from Senegal and the Ivory Coast to attend games, as the issuing of tourist visas for citizens of these nations has been largely suspended — partly because, in the past, many travelers from these countries overstayed their visas in the US. At one point, the US government had introduced a security deposit of up to $15,000 (€12,874) for visitors from some countries — a sum they were to be reimbursed after their departure. This measure was lifted for many ticket holders shortly before the tournament began.

US immigration policies and the possibility of operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are fueling a sense of unease. In the run-up to the event, the US government declined to rule out the possibility of checks or arrests in the vicinity of World Cup stadiums. 

3. Should a ticket for a game really cost $690,000?

Ticket prices at the start of sales were exceptionally high; many seats went on sale for thousands of dollars each, while premium tickets for the final originally cost around $11,000.

FIFA is using “dynamic pricing,” under which prices fluctuate significantly depending on demand. Even within the same sales phase, fans are paying different amounts for identical seats.

Added to this are reports that buyers, despite selecting a specific category or location within the stadium, have received tickets for inferior seats. Fan organizations and consumer protection groups accuse FIFA of price gouging, a lack of transparency, and unfair sales practices and have filed a formal complaint with the European Union. The attorneys general of the US states of New Jersey and New York have launched investigations into FIFA’s ticketing.

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With just weeks to go before the opening game, very few matches had sold out. As of May 28, the cheapest ticket for the final available on FIFA’s website was listed at $8,625. A seat in wheelchair areas was going for a minimum of $10,350. The very last available seat — located in the front row of a section near one of the corner flags — was listed for $690,000.

In addition to official ticket sales, FIFA operates its own resale platform, taking a 30% cut of every transaction. Critics argue that many fans have been priced out of the tournament.

4. Shouldn’t only the best teams compete at the World Cup?

This World Cup will feature 48 teams instead of 32. As a result, the number of matches will increase from 64 to 104. Experts and many fans fear this could dilute the sporting quality of the tournament.

At the same time, advancing to the knockout stage has become easier, as not only the top two finishers from each of the 12 preliminary groups will qualify, but also the eight best third-placed teams. Due to the number of teams, a round of 32 has been added.

Some observers view this reform as a politically motivated decision: smaller football associations — whose votes carry significant weight within FIFA — stand to benefit most from the allocation of additional spots. This raises the question of Infantino’s motives for pushing through this expansion. Was it primarily to consolidate his power base within the football’s global governing body?

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5. Wasn’t this tournament meant to be sustainable and climate-friendly?

Although FIFA has publicly championed the causes of sustainability and climate protection, the 2026 World Cup is facing heavy criticism due to its environmental impact. Studies estimate that the tournament will generate more than nine million tons of carbon dioxide, primarily due to the distances between host cities and the high volume of air travel involved. Environmental organizations have labeled this event potentially the “most climate-damaging World Cup” in history.

The problem persists at the local level as well. Many stadiums are located in the suburbs and in some cases there is little or no public transportation available. Where public transportation is available, some prices have skyrocketed; a short train ride to MetLife Stadium from New York was originally set to cost up to $150 (compared to the standard fare of around $13). Following protests from fans, the organizers eventually lowered the price to $98. The shuttle bus service is now scheduled to cost $20, down from the previously proposed $80. Those driving to the stadium face high parking costs at many venues,  ranging from $75 to $300, depending on the game. At least at stadiums with expensive parking, there is usually an affordable public transit alternative.

Critics say all this means that despite FIFA’s climate pledges, many fans will be forced to undertake environmentally harmful — and expensive journeys.

This article was originally published in German.

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Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, was on Thursday named to officiate UEFA’s Super Cup, European football’s governing body announced.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin poured praise on the Somali referee in a statement released a few hours before global body FIFA’s flagship World Cup was to start.

“Omar Artan is an excellent young but already experienced referee, who has proven himself at the highest competition level of the Confederation of African Football,” said Ceferin.

“Football is made to connect people, and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, which had earned him such a prestigious nomination.”

UEFA said that after talks with the African confederation, it “has today appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup” on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria, between Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League winners Aston Villa.

Artan’s case has been on of many incidents to taint the runup to FIFA’s World Cup.

UEFA said Artan’s appointment came in the framework of an accord between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation.

African pride

“UEFA and CAF are united by a shared commitment to developing football at all levels and promoting the core values of unity, equality and non-discrimination,” it said.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe said Artan had “made Somalia and the entire people of the African continent, extremely proud”.

“His receipt of the CAF men’s referee of the year award 2025 and his appointment as a referee of the FIFA World Cup 2026 are a recognition of his world-class refereeing ability and the international respect that he enjoys.”

His appointment to referee the Super Cup “is a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees and is also an excellent example of football, bringing together and uniting people from Africa and Europe and worldwide”, Motsepe said.

Artan was barred from entering the US on Saturday after arriving at Miami International Airport.

A US State Department official told AFP that the referee was “associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations”, therefore “making the traveler ineligible for admission to the United States”.

FIFA also confirmed that he would no longer be part of the World Cup.

Artan’s appointment to the 52-strong roster of referees for the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States had been a huge source of pride for his compatriots.

He returned to a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu on Wednesday and vowed to take part in the next World Cup in 2030.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to break new ground both on and off the pitch. For the first time in tournament history, all three host nations – the United States, Canada and Mexico, will stage their own opening ceremonies, transforming the start of the competition into a three-country celebration of football, music and culture.

The tournament officially begins tonight and will conclude on July 19 with the World Cup final in New Jersey, where FIFA has also planned a Super Bowl-style halftime show featuring some of the biggest names in global entertainment.

A Historic First for the FIFA World Cup

While the 2026 edition is the first World Cup to be hosted by three nations, it is only the second time the tournament has been jointly hosted.

The previous instance came in 2002 when Japan and South Korea shared hosting duties. However, that tournament featured a single opening ceremony.

This year, FIFA has opted for separate opening celebrations in Mexico, Canada and the United States, allowing each host nation to showcase its own culture, music and identity before the competition gets underway.

Mexico City Opening Ceremony: Shakira, Burna Boy and Mana Headline

The first opening ceremony of the tournament will take place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11.

Leading the celebrations will be Grammy-winning Mexican rock band Mana, one of Latin America’s most influential music groups. The ceremony will also feature a star-studded international line-up including Shakira, J Balvin, Burna Boy and several leading Latin artists.

Canada’s Opening Celebration to Showcase Homegrown Talent

Canada’s ceremony will take place in Toronto on June 12 ahead of the country’s group-stage clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The event will begin approximately 90 minutes before kick-off and will feature performances from some of Canada’s most recognised artists.

Singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette will perform Canada’s national anthem, while Aleksandar Gajić will perform the anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Actor and comedian Will Arnett, who serves as a FIFA World Cup 2026 ambassador, will also take part in welcoming supporters.

United States Ceremony Led by Katy Perry and Future

Later on June 12, the United States will host its own opening ceremony in Los Angeles ahead of its group-stage fixture against Paraguay.

American pop superstar Katy Perry will headline the show alongside rapper Future, providing a mix of pop and hip-hop entertainment before the host nation’s opening match.

FIFA World Cup Final to Feature First-Ever Halftime Show

One of the biggest innovations of the 2026 tournament will arrive on July 19 during the World Cup final in New Jersey.

For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, the final will feature a Super Bowl-style halftime show.

The show will also support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to expand access to education and football opportunities for children worldwide.

According to FIFA, more than $30 million has already been raised, while $1 from every World Cup ticket sold will be directed towards social development projects.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Song

Shakira and Burna Boy are also set to perform “Dai Dai”, the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, live for the first time during the opening ceremony in Mexico City.

The performance is expected to be one of the headline moments of the tournament’s opening night.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremonies live telecast and live streaming details

When does the first opening ceremony begin?

The Mexico City opening ceremony begins at 10:30 PM IST on June 11.

Which match opens the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Fabricio Andrey has earned his place as one of the most decorated practitioners of the discipline on the planet. The grappler, however, has found a new gear thanks to a teammate operating at the very top of the sport.

The Brazilian standout has been making waves on the ONE Championship submission grappling scene since his promotional debut, with his elite jiu-jitsu pedigree putting him firmly inside the conversation as a future ONE world title contender.

Sharing the mats with reigning ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion Diogo “Baby Shark” Reis at Melqui Galvao’s gym, however, has unlocked an entirely new layer of his competitive game.

The 26-year-old opened up about exactly how much working with Reis has helped him grow.

“Every session with him is good because I’m learning a lot from him about jiu-jitsu, especially the competitive [side]. He’s really good at learning the rules and the strategy, and I’m learning the strategy and the rules from him,” Fabricio Andrey said.

Fabricio Andrey is back in action at ONE Fight Night 44

Thus far, Fabricio Andrey has racked up a 3-0 record in the world’s largest martial arts organization.

And the Brazilian has the opportunity to extend that perfect promotional run when he returns at ONE Fight Night 44: Jarvis vs. Rungrawee II on Prime Video on Friday, June 26.

That evening, live from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium, he clashes alongside promotional newcomer Owen Jones in a featherweight submission grappling matchup.

The Melqui Galvao superstar was initially slated to challenge ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion Kade Ruotolo. Unfortunately, the American ground game wizard pulled out due to an injury sustained during his recent MMA victory over “Japanese Beast” Hiroyuki Tetsuka.

Jones, however, will be no pushover. The 21-year-old Brit has claimed some big scalps throughout his budding career, and he’ll be on the hunt for his biggest win yet come ONE Fight Night 44 later this month.

North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription can catch the entire card, live in U.S. primetime, for free on June 26.