When Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022, its message to the world was straightforward: football belongs to everyone.
The tournament was not without controversy. Critics raised concerns about labor laws, migrant worker treatment, and human rights issues. Yet despite the political debates surrounding the host nation, one aspect of the event stood out: people from around the world came together to participate in football’s biggest celebration.
It did not matter where you came from, what passport you carried, what language you spoke, or which national team you supported. Fans, players, officials, journalists, and visitors from every corner of the globe were welcomed.
The rules were simple. Respect local culture, enjoy the tournament, and do not consume alcohol inside the stadiums.
That is what a global sporting event should feel like.
The World Cup has always been about bringing together different nations, flags, religions, and political views through a shared passion for football. For a few weeks, rivalries remain on the pitch while supporters celebrate the game side by side.
Today, however, the message surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup feels different.
As the United States prepares to welcome the world as a co-host alongside Canada and Mexico, concerns are increasingly being raised about visa restrictions, travel barriers, political screening, and uncertainty over who may or may not be allowed to enter. Whether justified or not, many international fans perceive that access to football’s biggest event may depend not only on holding a ticket, but also on nationality, political circumstances, and government policies.
It is important to distinguish between government policies and the American people themselves.
Across the United States, ordinary Americans are excited about hosting the World Cup. Local communities, volunteers, small businesses, football clubs, and millions of fans have spent years preparing to welcome visitors from around the globe. Many see the tournament as a unique opportunity to showcase their cities, share their culture, and demonstrate the hospitality for which America has long been known.
The desire to be a great host is genuine.
Yet the reality perceived by many international visitors is more complicated. While American fans are preparing welcome signs, watch parties, and celebrations, headlines around the world focus on visa delays, travel restrictions, increased scrutiny for certain nationalities, and uncertainty over who will ultimately be allowed to enter the country. For some supporters, the excitement of attending the World Cup has been replaced by anxiety over whether they will be able to make the journey at all.
This contradiction is troubling. The people on the ground may be ready to embrace the world, but the message received abroad often feels very different. A World Cup host should project openness and accessibility. Instead, many fans are left wondering whether football’s greatest celebration is becoming harder to reach for those who do not hold the right passport or come from the right country.
That perception alone should concern FIFA.
The World Cup should never feel exclusive. It should never become an event where participation is determined by politics, bureaucracy, or identity. Football’s greatest strength is its ability to unite people who otherwise have little in common.
Consider a simple example. Imagine two lifelong football fans. One lives in Germany and the other in Kenya. Both save money for years to attend a World Cup match. Both buy tickets, book accommodations, and dream of witnessing football history. If one fan can easily attend while the other faces overwhelming visa hurdles or uncertainty about entry despite holding a valid ticket, the tournament stops being a truly global event. It becomes accessible only to those fortunate enough to hold the “right” passport.
That is not what FIFA was created to represent.
Football’s global appeal comes from its inclusiveness. A child kicking a ball in Nairobi, Buenos Aires, Mumbai, Berlin, Doha, or Dallas should feel equally connected to the World Cup. The tournament belongs to all of them.
If participation becomes controlled by politics and identity rather than a shared love of the game, football risks losing part of what made it the world’s most popular sport in the first place.
The question FIFA must ask itself is simple: Is the World Cup still a celebration for the entire world, or is it slowly becoming an event reserved for the privileged few?
Millions of Americans are ready to welcome the world with open arms. The challenge is ensuring that the world is actually allowed to come.
The answer will determine whether football remains the world’s game—or merely another international event shaped by political boundaries.
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