The World Cup's core intent has always been to unify the globe through football. This year's edition seemed primed to reinforce that sentiment more than ever - taking place across three nations and raising the number of participants to 48 from the traditionally established 32 - both firsts in the tournament's 96-year history.
But from the moment the United States was confirmed as the primary host of the 2026 World Cup, fans and critics were alarmed. One of the first acts of the first Trump administration was a travel ban covering nearly forty countries; something in direct tension with the basic premise of a global football tournament.
The international football federation FIFA produced assurances that the US State Department had promised that all eligible athletes, officials and fans from qualified nations would be permitted to attend. In reality, these assurances have proven shaky.
According to regulations set before the tournament, residents of Algeria, Cape Verde, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Tunisia are required to pay bonds of $5000 to $15,000 in order to obtain tourist visas to the United States. No exemption was granted to fans attending the World Cup. This placed attendance beyond the reach of the vast majority of supporters, already expected to pay an average of $765 per ticket for the group stage matches alone.
Originally published by African Business.