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The 2026 World Cup is nearly upon us. Across 39 days beginning Thursday, 104 matches will be played throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada until a champion is crowned 19 July in New Jersey.
Amid the quadrennial excitement around the world’s biggest sporting event, there has also been intense controversy and scrutiny. Ticket prices, transport costs, climate threats and security concerns have left fans with mixed emotions.
We asked readers around the world to share their feelings about the World Cup, whether they are preparing to attend the matches in person, follow from home or refuse to watch at all. These are some of the stories we received.
I’m going, but I don’t feel great about any of it
There isn’t a ton of optimism about Canada’s chances – getting out of the group would be an accomplishment, albeit a very attainable one – but rooting for a competent underdog in these tournaments is rewarding in its own way. Plus, we have recently enjoyed some very intense international sport (ice hockey against the US, in the Four Nations Face-Off and then the Olympics), so there is a sense of togetherness in what is a very diverse city. Really it comes down to the novelty of the experience and bringing a global event “home”, if only for a few games. I’m attending Canada v Switzerland in Vancouver. I got tickets through a friend’s work and figured out affordable accommodation through family, otherwise I would not be attending. Resale and even face value prices are extortionate.
I have been following stories about the World Cup, and as with all things related to football administration I am appalled. Greed is how things work in this world we’ve constructed for ourselves, and the manner in which Fifa has conducted itself in the last year – when measured against reported conduct in 2022 and the disdain that North American companies hold for consumers – shouldn’t be surprising. I will watch every game I can and I will attend my one Canada game, but I don’t feel great about any of it. Ian McCann, Toronto
The special brand of World Cup magic
Despite all of the lackluster buildup, the World Cup has its own special brand of magic, whether you’re watching a heavyweight, a plucky minnow, or your own country.
You never know when Turkey or South Korea might make it to the semi-finals, when James Rodríguez might come out of nowhere to score one of the best goals you’ve ever seen again Uruguay, when a French team might implode, or when you’ll be huddled at a table in a restaurant with your Argentinian stepmother watching on an iPhone as Argentina finally win on penalties and as the kitchen staff faintly explode in cheers behind you.
I’ve tried [to buy tickets] but haven’t had any luck so far. I live about 45 minutes away from Foxborough, where a few of the games are being held. However, tickets hovering around high triple digits or low quadruple digits have put me off. I’ve been watching as those prices have steadily decreased recently so I’m hoping to still snag tickets to some games. Jose C, Massachusetts
I live for the World Cup. I can tell you where I was for finals going back to 2002. I’m excited to see what the national teams can do.
We left the US four years ago. The travel cost, the unknown at US immigration. And plane fuel. We don’t want to get stuck in the US. Plus the tickets are insanely expensive. Who can afford those prices? You can get a better picture on TV.
I have been watching closely since [Donald] Trump was re-elected. It doesn’t appear that anything is being done in preparation for these matches. I fear he is going to ruin football. The temperatures for this World Cup are going to be worse. Christy, 62, Portugal
Shocking, greedy – and yet, there’s still hope
I think I speak for a nation when I say the thought of Scotland being at the World Cup fills us with giddy excitement. I woke up on the morning of the 2014 edition with a face full of hives and Scotland hadn’t even qualified, so I dread to think what condition my skin will be in come the morning of our first game.
It’s shocking, it’s abhorrent, it’s greedy, it’s entirely unsurprising. [Fifa president Gianni] Infantino is desperate to be popular and loved by powerful men.
You’ve got to feel for Canada and Mexico, this being a supposed joint bid, only the US are being talked about and for all the wrong reasons, from ICE agents to dynamic pricing, there’s not a lot of positives.
That being said, will I watch as many games as possible? Of course, Scott McTominay didn’t score that overhead kick for me not to get up at 2am, Kieran Tierney didn’t score a thunderbastard for me not to buy a Panini sticker book at almost 40 years old, and Kenny McLean didn’t score from his own half for me to forget the last 28 years of Scotland not qualifying so that we can have that most comforting and sickening feeling for a couple of weeks, hope. Fraser, 38, Clackmannanshire, Scotland
$10,000 tickets? How times have changed
I have a conditional ticket for the final which will only become valid if England get there. So, probably not.
The photo is of me holding a 1986 World Cup final ticket. The cost of the quarter-final (England v Argentina), semi-final (Argentina v Belgium) and the final was $100. Less than the cost of getting a bus from New York to the MetLife Stadium 40 years later. How times have changed. Tony Mason, 60, Louth
Missed opportunity for the US to do more
I’m hoping (despite the cave-in of excitement internationally for this tournament), there will still be guests from all over the world and I’ll have the chance to give directions around New York, tell them a little about local football culture, or just share a drink and a watch. I expect New York will still be a fun place to be this summer, and I’m making a chart of all the different neighborhoods my friends and I want to go watch a game in with international supporters in those neighborhoods – parts of Harlem near me are partial to Senegal, or where I work in Sunset Park I expect will be buzzing on Mexico matchdays.
Years ago we imagined this as a chance to make lifelong memories nearly each day, to finally show that we have the smarts to put on a large-scale World Cup, to turn around the grim momentum of the stories behind the last two World Cups. Now it’s embarrassing to have hoped for any of it – this World Cup is like a bad insult comic trying to do crowd work, and bombing, and the United States soccer community are the comedian, and the crowd, and venue losing money on a garbage act, and the better comedian who didn’t get booked that night. Corruption has become a daily watchword in many aspects of life in this country and this tournament reflects that at so many levels, down to the way state-level corruption causes breakdowns in services and competition between localities for resources and favor. I got my tickets cheap and will enjoy what I’ve got, and I don’t intend to allow the degradation of the game or the tournament to stop me from playing host on a personal level – but I’ll rue this summer as a missed opportunity for our country to be and do more. Abhi Goyal, 34, New York
I’m boycotting this World Cup
It’s WAY too expensive, and the political aspect of it all looks bad.
I played soccer my whole childhood. I attended and enjoyed the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada. I remember fondly the ’94 World Cup in the US – I didn’t attend, but remember how exciting it was to watch. I’m boycotting this one, even though I live in a host city. It seems like the only reason it exists is for the rich to party and to boost Trump’s ego, and I refuse to participate. Sarah, Vancouver
‘The USA kind of sucks, but we will go there anyway’
The current regime in the USA, ticket and travel prices, meant that our small group of friends on the World Cup tour has shrunk to two, but we have a third mate in Vancouver, which made New Zealand being drawn in Group G perfect. I am looking forward to spending time with two of my best friends; watching some amazing football live, at amazing stadiums in the right time zone – I don’t think people from larger territories understand the effort antipodean fans go to to watch live sport at big tournaments. Just watching the games on TV without losing sleep is going to be a massive luxury! This may be over-romanticizing things, but [I’m excited about] being part of a larger mass of fans getting together to enjoy the football. I have printed some stickers to share with the random fans I will be sitting with in the stands.
I have been following lots of World Cup stories, from the ticket and hotel prices, to ICE issues, to what may happen to the Iran team, who New Zealand will be playing in our first match. Almost every story has worried me somewhat, and some of the gloss has been taken off the trip for me. Having said that, as JJ Bull says – “The USA kind of sucks, but we will go there anyway.” Campbell McGill, Auckland
Excitement will take hold once games start
I wish Fifa had followed the successful model of the 1994 World Cup – the last time the US hosted. Letting US Soccer and the host cities take the lead worked very well and many of the issues around the upcoming tournament were avoided. But I hope once the games start, the excitement of the world’s beautiful game will be the focus.
The articles are correct, there is much to criticize. But the media are so often focused on the negative. I trust the matches will be exciting and the press will capture both the highs and lows of the tournament. Ambassador John Hennessey-Niland (Ret), director for government affairs at 1994 World Cup,
US
Rooting for Messi, but hate to see him with Trump
I really hope Argentina can win again. We would love to celebrate our fourth star. But beyond football, I would also like Argentine players to be bolder about what they say off the field. I miss players like Maradona, Cantona or Ibrahimović, who were never afraid to speak their minds. I admire players like Mbappé or Lamine Yamal when they speak about immigration, condemn the far right or show solidarity with Palestine. Argentina has the best player in the world, but I hate seeing Messi smiling with Trump. I’d like to hear more voices speaking about social issues, inequality, workers, retirees and the situation many people are facing in the country. Hugo, Argentina
For a month, we can all dream
[I’m hoping] to see Panama score against England, who somehow have become our rival (even though they don’t see it that way) at a World Cup stage. And note my choice of words, score. But still, it’s the World Cup and for a month we can all dream of a win.
We tried, as in seriously tried [to get tickets]. But the price and political atmosphere was too much to bear.
Fifa is betting on the loyalty of the fans, and losing. And it’s systemic, even to watch over the TV is going to be an expense, a serious one for many. At this point people are choosing which games to see over the TV because pricing has become crazy. It won’t be as massive as it was before. Alfredo, 43, Panama
Zero interest in the actual games
I’m an Arsenal fan since the 1970s. I have never been much interested in international football, but this year, watching Trump and Infantino vying to see how much money and prestige each could get from the finals has left me with zero interest in the actual games.
I have read stories about the cost of tickets (including for players’ family members), the lack of affordable transportation to the games and the possibility that ICE will be out in force. What do I think about them? Disgust. Jo A, Oregon
Channelling the magic of the 2010 Olympics
I grew up watching soccer. My dad was an under-20 provincial champ and my grandfather played semi pro in Victoria in the 1930s. My husband and I are attending on 14 June. Australia v Turkey. So lucky. When we hosted the Olympics in 2010, it was magical.
I truly hope that there are no issues and I am very relieved that ICE will not be in Vancouver. I feel for visitors going to matches in the US and my fingers are crossed that no one will be jailed, and/or deported. Shelley, Vancouver
A baptism by fire for my country
When Norway last qualified for the World Cup, I was 5 years old. So this World Cup will obviously be a new and potentially emotional experience for me (and many other Norwegians). I’ve been an avid World Cup (and Euros) watcher my entire life, and I’ve always had to cheer for a surrogate team (sometimes Sweden, sometimes Denmark, but most often Germany). Now I get to watch my own team play. Something I am looking forward to. We ended up in the so-called “group of death” with Senegal and France, which makes it all the more exciting. A baptism by fire, which might incidentally also become literal as well as figurative due to the hot temperatures of the American summer.
The American stadiums also look quite strange, and I am interested in how they will look on the television. Maybe it will be great? I am not looking forward to the half-time show in the final, however. William, 32, Oslo
