FIFA World Cup '26: News & Analysis

There's just no justifications for this

'In this World Cup’s great convergence of 48 nations, one is conspicuously not receiving the same treatment as the other 47.

'And however much Gianni Infantino might try to posture as the ultimate peacemaker, he must surely see that the longer this problem persists, the graver… pic.twitter.com/4pPkiOZe1v

— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) June 16, 2026

Also

In the category of truly absurd things you can't make up, an Iranian player's US visa has now expired because he was granted only a single-entry despite Iran being compelled to leave the United States after EVERY SINGLE GAME.

"Football unites the world," amirite?!?!?!? pic.twitter.com/2KmYhOMLIM

— Nathan Kalman-Lamb (@nkalamb) June 16, 2026

 

Government efficiencies.

 

I was thinking the NZ vs Iran game was going to be pretty crap and I was planning to just watch a bit. Couldn't have been more wrong. A very good game.

 

True. Or at least I assume its true. Couldn't actually watch that game as one must pick and choose with so many games each day.

 

Me too. I got lucky and settled on a good one. However, I am seeing a pattern. The later games played at night seem to be better. Less heat, I assume.

 

Let's see if that trend continues. Interestingly, today the earlier matches will be played in cooler conditions. Very comfortable, low humidity day in the northeast for France x Senegal and Iraq x Norway. A bit warmer for Argentina x Algeria.

 

That does not seem safe.

 

That reminds me. My favorite story of the WC is the love affair between the Algeria MNT and Lawrence, KS.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/16/algeria-lawrence-kansas-world-cup-fans-adopted-team

 

True. But there is still a lot games to go. We see how we feel about in 2 weeks and like 70 games in. Especially after 3rd group games, many of which might involve teams already qualified.

 

Another team is in the same situation, but because they are African nobody gives a damn.

GHA team's US visa is single-entry: it will expire when they travel to Toronto for Group L MD1.

Just as IRN, their players are granted single-entry US visas, for each time they need to travel into the US for this WC.

This is what several African fans and journalists currently endure during this tournament: single-entry US visas enacted since January 2025. Ghanaians, Nigerians, Cameroonians, and the list goes on.

Lastly, according to FIFA regulations, all teams must leave their venue-specific hotel on Match Day. This is because FIFA already pays for a base-camp hotel, where a team must return after a match ends.

18.2 Only official team accommodation in Canada, Mexico and the USA (Team Base Camp Hotels and Venue‑Specific Team Hotels) designated as such by FIFA shall be used for the teams’ accommodation from five days before the team’s first match and up to one day after its elimination or last match in the FIFA World Cup 26.

18.3 Each team participating in the FIFA World Cup 26 shall choose a Team Base Camp from the Team Base Camp brochure, as per the official Team Base Camp selection policy, which shall be its main accommodation and training base until the knockout stages begin (i.e. round of 32). Each team shall travel from its Team Base Camp to the match venue one day before matchday (MD‑1) and in exceptional cases on MD‑2, and shall return to their Team Base Camp after the match (on MD/MD+1).​

 

According to some here, the whole thing will just be "water under the bridge" next time the US bids again

 

Interestingly enough, we don't see you commenting on the Canadian gov't refusing entry to a Ghanaian player, one day before his match in Toronto.

Who would have thought that immigration law should be applied, regardless of whether you are a WC player or not?

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cly8qj2nlzqo

Partey misled Canadian officials over previous arrest

 

Yes and the whole continent will stagnate for 40 years. Sure

 

Ongoing judicial procedure in the UK plus lying outright to IRCC, oh and its rape & sexual assault.

Congrats for finding "ONE". Now, should we go over all the arbitrary bans done by the US?

 

Not quite sure about the renovations bit. A lot of them needed some sideline seating removed to fit a World Cup size Football field in. I've only visited one Football stadium in the USA (the one in las Vegas) and the owners didn't want to do seating modifications for the WC so it didn't get in but if its indicative you have some lovely stadia in the USA. We've probably only got 3 or 4 to compare in my country but they are generally a bit smaller.

 

I know you hate the orange pedo, but it will be sooooo long forgotten.

If you would have told somebody in September of 1945, when World War 2 ended, that in 27 years with all that rubble and destruction, people dead, violated (on all sides), suffering from deep scars that we can't even relate, that Munich would hold the Summer Olympics? Then 2 years after that, in 1974, the World Cup would take place in Germany and all these nations would willingly go? That's 29 years and after the bloodiest conflict in history to date. Nobody in their right mind would have believed it (nor cared). You honestly don't think that in three or four decades, when he's long gone, and the US bids again that they're gonna say: well geez, I don't know, back in 2026 poor KDB had the sole of his shoe inspected, the Senegal team was on the tarmac for 3 hours, and the poor Iraqi team photographer was interrogated for 7 hours. 32 years is a geologic age in football. This is happening becauae of Trump, we all know this. For it to happen again will need another wannabe dictatorship in office.

Also, remember after the Euro 2021 Final when England fans caused a real mess inside and outside the stadium. For the next 3 days after the Final pundits were questioning if they are able to host Euro2028 or should be stripped co-hosting duties. After the furor died down, the tournament hasn't been moved and none of that talk remains.

EDIT: Japan hosted 2 Olympics in 27 years and they were aggressor and other countries still went. Italy hosted the Olympics a mere 15 years after WWII and they too were an aggressor and the world still went.