For many football fans, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been a bittersweet affair, marked by exclusion and travel bans. The tournament, which aims to bring the world together through football, has instead highlighted the stark inequalities faced by supporters, journalists, and even some tournament personnel. The story of Mustafa al Saadi, a 32-year-old laboratory technician from Mosul, Iraq, encapsulates this struggle. Al Saadi had planned to travel to the United States to watch Iraq's match against France in Philadelphia, but his visa application was still pending as he watched the game from a distance.
This experience is not unique. FIFA's efforts to globalize the World Cup have been met with challenges, as immigration policies in co-host countries remain under the control of national governments. As a result, supporters from about a quarter of qualifying nations faced travel bans, heightened entry restrictions, or high US visa refusal rates. The inequalities were evident in the stands, with supporters from Haiti and Scotland celebrating their return to the World Cup stage, while those from Cabo Verde and Senegal faced significant barriers to entry.
The Trump administration's immigration crackdown, including the requirement for some visitors from 50 countries to post visa bonds of up to $15,000, has further complicated matters. FIFA's request for an exemption was granted for qualified World Cup ticket holders from five participating countries, but supporters still had to navigate the standard visa process. This has led to disappointment for many, including Prince Ayim Brown, a Ghanaian journalist who was denied a visa despite his efforts to cover the tournament.
The impact of these travel bans and restrictions extends beyond the field. In Mosul, hundreds gathered to watch Iraq's match in a fan zone, bringing the World Cup to their city. Similarly, in Brockton, Massachusetts, and Dakar, Senegal, supporters found creative ways to celebrate the tournament, even if they couldn't travel to the United States. The World Cup has become a global event, not just on the field but also in the hearts and minds of fans around the world.
For diaspora communities, the tournament offered a unique opportunity to cheer for their own teams. Cabo Verde, for example, held Spain to a draw, and their supporters celebrated in Brockton, Massachusetts, with a mix of Portuguese and Brazilian jerseys giving way to Cabo Verdean flags. The team's goalkeeper, Vozinha, became an emblem of national pride, showcasing the country's talent to the world.
Despite the challenges, the 2026 World Cup has brought people together, even if it wasn't in the physical presence of the tournament. Al Saadi's experience in Mosul, where he helped create a fan zone, demonstrates the power of football to unite people, even when they can't be physically present. The World Cup has become a global phenomenon, transcending borders and bringing people together, even if it wasn't in the way they had imagined.
