With less than a month to go before the opening match, the FIFA World Cup in America is raising many questions. Between international tensions and Donald Trump's controversial foreign policy, the smooth running of the international tournament has never been so uncertain.
The high ticket prices – $875 for the opening match and up to $11,000 for the final – have angered fans, but FIFA President Gianni Infantino defends the pricing, which he says reflects "market" prices .
Fans are also complaining about transportation costs. For example, the cost of a round-trip train ticket from New York to New Jersey, where the final will take place on July 19, is $105 compared to around ten dollars normally.
Another point of contention for supporters is the security challenge. In Mexico, nearly 100,000 members of the security forces will be deployed to guarantee the safety of the matches, particularly in Guadalajara, where a wave of violence was triggered last March following the assassination of drug trafficker El Mencho.
While the February 28 attack on Iran sparked a regional conflict in the Middle East, Iran's participation is uncertain. Tehran has set ten conditions for its participation in the tournament, demanding guarantees regarding the country's treatment.
Organised for the first time in three countries: the United States, Mexico and Canada, the 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19.
