The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be the biggest in history and jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, promised to be a spectacular celebration of football. But as the tournament draws closer, controversies have emerged that could push some countries and their fans toward boycott or protest. Two of the most contentious issues are the politically driven U.S. visa and travel policies under President Donald Trump, which disproportionately affect fans from many nations, and the sky-high ticket prices that have enraged supporters worldwide. In this article, we break down these concerns and explore why some teams and countries might seriously consider opting out or protesting the spectacle.
Political Tensions and Visa Restrictions
In the last year, the U.S. administration under Donald Trump has tightened immigration and travel rules significantly. A broad suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of dozens of nations including some of those qualified for the 2026 World Cup has created alarm among supporters and even some football officials.
Even if the U.S. State Department says that tourist and short-term visas (B1/B2) for World Cup travellers themselves are not officially restricted, the reality is more complex:
Countries like and Côte d’Ivoire have been placed under partial travel restrictions, meaning citizens may face extra hurdles and limits when applying for visas
Other qualified teams’ citizens from Ghana, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, and more are caught up in broader visa freeze policies that make fan travel unpredictable.
Even for UAE fans and others outside Africa, authorities have warned that owning a World Cup ticket does not guarantee U.S. visa approval, leaving supporters vulnerable to rejection and potentially wasted travel costs.
These policies have led to real diplomatic and sporting fallout. For example, Iran’s national football federation reportedly boycotted the World Cup draw because of visa disputes, signaling that sports organizations themselves are ready to push back when political actions impede participation.
The broader political climate also fuels potential national-level boycotts: tensions over unrelated geopolitical issues — such as Trump’s rhetoric on *Greenland* — have sparked debate in European politics and occasional calls for boycott as symbolic protest. Some politicians have even floated the idea of Germany sitting out the tournament unless political conditions improve.
Ticket Prices and Accessibility
If visa access is the structural barrier, ticket pricing has become the economic flashpoint for global fan outrage.
For generations, the World Cup has been the one sporting event where everyday supporters could reasonably attend on modest budgets. But in 2026, many fans have found ticket prices skyrocketing far above previous benchmarks
Ticket pricing for group stages, knockout rounds and finals under FIFA’s dynamic pricing model has been described as “extortionate” by fan organizations. Sometimes multiple times higher than for Qatar 2022.
According to data from supporters and FIFA’s own announcements, even the lowest limited-quantity tier costs roughly $60 per match, but only a tiny fraction of seats are offered at this level.
Premium seats have been reported reaching thousands of dollars, pricing out casual fans and making attendance unrealistic for many families and communities.
This pricing model reflects both the massive market demand and FIFA’s experiment with dynamic pricing revenue based on perceived demand rather than fixed categories. But supporters’ groups from Europe to Africa see this as a move away from the World Cup’s roots, fueling calls for ticketing reform and even symbolic boycotts from fans who refuse to pay obscene costs or support an event they feel no longer represents the “people’s game.”
Politics Meets Fan Frustration
What makes the 2026 controversy especially combustible is how politics and commercialism intersect
v Visa restrictions and travel bans are seen by many as politically motivated and insensitive to global inclusivity, especially for nations that have qualified for the event but may struggle to send supporters.
vHigh ticket prices are perceived as turning football’s biggest party into an elitist spectacle, accessible mainly to wealthy travellers and corporate clients.
v The combination of tougher travel requirements and rising costs means that for some fans, especially from African, Asian, and Latin American countries, attending the World Cup is simply unattainable not by choice, but by policy and pricing.
These overlapping grievances give moral cover to activists, politicians, and even national teams considering non-participation or protest. While no major national team has formally declared a full boycott at this time, the conversation is happening in political and fan communities around the world.
A Turning Point for World Football?
As the summer of 2026 approaches, the debate around the World Cup boycott shows how sport no longer exists in a vacuum. Global events like the World Cup sit at the nexus of politics, economics, and culture.
Whether countries ultimately follow through with boycotts or whether officials and organizers find political and financial compromises remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the debates around visa access and pricing have opened up deeper questions about who the World Cup really belongs to the global community of fans and nations, or powerful interests shaping the game from afar.
Fans’ voices are louder than ever. And this tournament could mark a new chapter for better or worse in the history of world football.
The question isn't whether there will be protests it's how loud they'll be, and who will listen.
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About the Writer
Zakaria Abdul-Rafiu is a writer and Forest Resource Technology student at KNUST with a keen interest in the intersection of technology, business, and sustainable development in Africa. Through VoltFeed, he explores how innovation and policy are shaping economies across the continent.
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