The 2026 World Cup began in Mexico City with FIFA president Gianni Infantino urging critics to “relax” over the exclusion of a Somali referee by US immigration, but the off-field controversies show no sign of abating. Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry despite being selected for the tournament, a decision Infantino labelled “lamentable” while conceding his organisation is powerless. “We are not the kings of the world,” he said. President Donald Trump added fuel to the fire by stating that authorities are working to ensure “the right people” enter the country, a phrase that provoked immediate backlash for its apparent exclusionary tone.

The visa snag is not an isolated incident. Iranian technical staff and support personnel have faced outright denials or delays, while the team was reportedly barred from overnight stays on US soil under wartime sanctions, according to Agência Brasil. Uzbekistan’s delegation complained of discriminatory security treatment. In Buenos Aires and other regional capitals, the case of Artan was seen as emblematic of how Trump’s immigration enforcement undercuts the World Cup’s promise of a global gathering, a contradiction highlighted by Mexico’s El Universal.

Adding to the growing discontent, ticket prices have reached historic highs, with final tickets fetching over 80,000 euros (1.3 billion Indonesian rupiah). Infantino defended the pricing by arguing that if FIFA were at fault, “maybe everyone who sells tickets in North America” would be guilty, a rationale that German press described as “more brazen than the prices themselves.” Trump’s claims of record sales jar with complaints from fans across Asia and Latin America, who argue the tournament is becoming inaccessible.

Infantino, in a rare press conference, insisted the organisational effort has been “nearly perfect” and that the sport must remain the focus. Yet analysts in London and across Europe note that FIFA’s inability to shield participants from host-nation policies exposes the limits of its influence. As the matches proceed, the spectacle will face continued scrutiny, and the question of whether football can truly insulate itself from geopolitics remains unanswered.