The 2026 World Cup was billed as the most globally inclusive tournament yet, but behind the excitement lies a stark reality of visa hurdles that have kept many supporters from attending matches in person.
Visa Barriers Threaten Inclusive Vision
While teams from Cape Verde, Jordan, Uzbekistan and Curaçao made their debut on the world stage, it was the diaspora communities in places like Brockton, Massachusetts, who turned the streets into impromptu stadiums, celebrating as if their sides had lifted the trophy.
For Mustafa al Saadi, an Iraqi hospital worker, the dream of watching the tournament live in the United States was stalled by a pending visa application. Unable to travel, he helped organize a fan zone in Mosul, bringing the World Cup atmosphere to his city and showing how ingenuity can fill the gaps left by bureaucracy.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has publicly criticized the United States’ immigration policies, warning that they risk undermining the tournament’s promise of universal access.
The U.S. requirement for visa bonds of up to $15,000 for visitors from 50 countries, coupled with exemptions for some ticket holders, has created a financial barrier that disproportionately affects fans from developing nations.
Ghanaian journalist Prince Ayim Brown experienced a visa denial without explanation, while Scottish fans marched through Boston’s streets in kilts and Haitian supporters faced their own set of travel restrictions, highlighting the uneven impact of the policy.
Cape Verde’s surprising scoreless draw with Spain sparked jubilation in Brockton, where Cape Verdean families gathered to watch the match, turning a simple game into a communal celebration of national pride.
These stories illustrate a tournament that, while expanding its roster of participants, still grapples with the paradox of inclusion: the world’s biggest football festival is increasingly defined by who can actually get through the door.