Football and politics collide as World Cup kicks off in shadow of war, travel bans

The biggest World Cup ever opens on Thursday with 48 teams, 104 matches, three host nations and mounting anger at ticket prices and a US immigration crackdown that has seen fans, a top referee and team officials barred from the tournament.

The tournament kicks off in Mexico City’s storied Azteca Stadium with hosts Mexico facing South Africa, marking a return to the World Cup stage for the iconic venue that hosted matches in 1970 and 1986.

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There are unprecedented logistical challenges to staging a three-country event across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The US will host the majority of the games, at a time of rising inflation, political tensions and the ongoing war in Iran.

Escalating social tensions in Mexico have also threatened to derail the party, with protesters blocking off access to the main plaza set to host the country’s main fan celebrations on the eve of the opening ceremony.

All of that is separate from the on-field drama that will play over nearly six weeks, through to the July 19 final at the MetLife Stadium near New York City.

“This will be the biggest, the most inclusive, the greatest FIFA World Cup ever,” declared FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has predicted 7 million fans will pack the stadiums and 6 billion more will be watching from afar.

Travel bans

The Trump administration’s immigration policies have already ensured the tournament has largely failed the inclusivity test, even before it begins. The decision to drop award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan after he was barred from entering the US has been met with outrage around the world.

President Donald Trump has been a big supporter of the World Cup coming to America, repeatedly hosting Infantino at the White House and speaking in glowing terms about the tournament.

Infantino has gone to great lengths to strengthen those relations, awarding Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize last year after he was overlooked for the Nobel Prize. A Tiffany-crafted golden Club World Cup trophy has also sat in the Oval Office since the US hosted the tournament last year.

Six months have passed since a German soccer federation official said it was time to consider a World Cup boycott because of Trump’s actions, which included threats to take control of Greenland. That was even before the United States and Israel launched military attacks on Iran, which has led to a surge in oil prices and destabilization in the Middle East.

It also raised questions about Iran‘s participation in the World Cup. The team moved its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, and has complained about visa hassles and tickets being revoked. Iranian players arrived in Mexico wearing lapel pins highlighting the victims of a deadly missile strike on an elementary school at the start of the war.

Ticket price ‘betrayal’

FIFA has come in for fierce criticism over its ticket pricing strategy for this World Cup, which was already considered an expensive trip.

When tickets went on general sale in January they ranged from $140 to $8,680. While some have since been made available for less, others have risen significantly – up to $32,970 for the final. Fans have accused the governing body of a “monumental betrayal”.

Resale prices are even higher on the secondary market, with FIFA’s own resale marketplace in April listing four tickets to the final for just under $2.3 million each. While FIFA does not control prices on the site, it does take a 30% commission from each resale. Parking for games can cost as much as $175 and fans have been stunned by rising train fares, up from $12.90 to $98 in New Jersey, for example.

Infantino has defended ticket prices and said demand was equivalent to “1,000 years of World Cups at once”, adding that all 104 matches would be sold out.

A recent IPSOS poll, however, found that only 26% of Americans said they were “at least somewhat excited” about the World Cup and 7% were “extremely or very excited”.

Meanwhile, room bookings have been lighter than expected in most of the 11 US host cities, according to an April survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

The heat factor

A super-sized tournament across three countries is FIFA’s latest World Cup experiment and only time will tell if it works. One thing is certain: ballooning carbon emissions will make the air-conditioned 2022 edition in Qatar look “green” in comparison.

For some, the quality of the event will seem diluted by expanding the format to 48 teams and shedding only 16 in the group stage – meaning the real drama may be put on hold until deep in the knockout stage.

One thing FIFA cannot be blamed for is rising temperatures and extreme heat is likely to affect athletes, fans, workers and officials during the games. Some of the sites – the Texas cities of Dallas and Houston, for example, though Kansas City and Atlanta are not immune – could see “feels like” temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius (90F).

There will be safety measures such as hydration breaks for players and FIFA has lifted a planned ban on fans bringing refillable water bottles into stadiums. including some with limited shade from the sun.

Final bow for Messi, Ronaldo

Ultimately when it comes to the World Cup, the football eventually takes over and there are many potential storylines ahead.

Does Lionel Messi have one last great act at the World Cup in what is surely his final bow on this stage? Or will his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo land the one major trophy that has eluded him, at age 41?

Record five-time winner Brazil are out for their first title in more than 20 years and have turned to iconic Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti to try to end their drought. England have put their faith in German manager Thomas Tuchel as they try to end 60 years of hurt.

Read moreWorld Cup 2026: France, Spain, Argentina… Who are the favourites?

The three host nations will be desperate to impress in front of their home crowds, after a string of disappointing tournaments. Might the US, led by Argentinian manager Mauricio Pochettino, pull off the biggest World Cup upset of all time come July 19?

“If you go into a tournament thinking, ‘Oh yeah, we have no chance of winning it,’ then what’s the point of even going? What’s the point of playing?” US captain Tim Ream told The AP. “He (Pochettino) is not shy about speaking about that when we’re together… ‘Why not us? Why can’t we do it?’”

(FRANCE 24 with AP and AFP)