Fifa World Cup 2026: Is this the most exclusionary tournament in history?

Fifa World Cup 2026: Is this the most exclusionary tournament in history? Submitted by Azad Essa on Tue, 05/19/2026 - 23:31 Eye-watering costs, visa restrictions and long travel distances mean this World Cup edition may not 'unite the world' the way Fifa claims A view of signage ahead of the 2026 World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on 19 May 2026 (Dustin Satloff/AFP) Off The Fifa World Cup represents the pinnacle of the world’s most popular game. For decades, the tournament has been marketed as a month-long spectacle in which borders dissolve and billions of people gather - be it in front of the television set, or a cafe, pub, or at the stadium itself - to witness who will lift its most coveted prize.  And even though the World Cup has almost always been a playground for the rich and famous, this year's tournament - running from 11 June to 19 July 2026 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico - feels a little different.  The tournament - with three countries hosting, 48 countries competing, and promised to be the biggest the world has ever known - continues to be overshadowed by eye-watering ticket prices, tightening border controls, travel restrictions, and growing authoritarianism in the US. The uncertainty around travel and ticketing costs, combined with a volatile domestic environment, has left fans and followers feeling somewhat disheartened. High costs, long distances Tickets for the World Cup have always been a prized commodity.  Fans have often saved up for years ahead of a tournament and wait for Fifa, football's world governing body, to open digital windows to enter ticket lotteries for a shot at a World Cup ticket. But even b...

Original source: Middle East Eye