The one-month countdown to the 2026 World Cup kicks off Monday, blending excitement with unease as soaring ticket prices, political tensions in Donald Trump's America, and the war in Iran cast a shadow over football's biggest event.
A record 48 teams and millions of fans are set to descend on the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the first-ever World Cup co-hosted by three nations. The sprawling, nearly six-week spectacle begins June 11 at Mexico City's iconic Estadio Azteca and culminates in the final at New Jersey's 82,500-seat MetLife Stadium on July 19.
Yet a turbulent build-up has left the 23rd edition of the World Cup feeling like a morning-after headache before the party even starts. A potent mix of affordability concerns, politics, and conflict has already soured the mood.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino insists the pre-tournament unease is overblown, dismissing the tide of downbeat headlines as "negative press." "The truth of the matter is that it's very difficult to find something negative around this World Cup," Infantino said at a Beverly Hills business conference this week.
But his bullish optimism hasn't been widely shared across the football world. The skyrocketing cost of tickets has triggered a global backlash, leaving FIFA scrambling to manage the public relations fallout. Fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) has branded the pricing structure "extortionate" and a "monumental betrayal," citing prices that put the tournament—expected to generate $13 billion for FIFA—out of reach for many.
For context, the most expensive ticket for the 2022 final cost around $1,600 at face value. In 2026, the most expensive face-value ticket is a staggering $32,970. Infantino justifies the prices by pointing to the U.S. market, which hosts the bulk of the tournament's fixtures. "We have to look at the market—we are in the market in which entertainment is the most developed in the world," he said.
As for Iran's participation, the war has sparked uncertainty, though officials maintain "Iran will play." With one month to go, the countdown is a mix of anxiety and anticipation, setting the stage for a World Cup unlike any other.