Visas, high prices, and mobility crises surround the 2026 World Cup

Athletes have confirmed that the 2026 World Cup is witnessing many problems and gaps that may affect the format of the tournament and the major event, despite the enormous public and media momentum that accompanies the first edition, which was launched last Thursday with the participation of 48 teams and in three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico. They pointed out that the organizational, logistical and financial challenges raise many questions about the fans’ ability to fully enjoy the tournament that football fans around the world are following.

They told Emirates Al-Youm that problems have besieged the tournament for a long time, most notably the significant increase in match ticket prices and the difficulty of obtaining them, in addition to the unprecedented increase in travel ticket prices between host cities, as well as the insane rise in accommodation and hotel prices during the tournament period. They also pointed out that the procedures for obtaining visas, especially to enter the United States of America, represent a real challenge for thousands of fans wishing to attend the competitions from various countries of the world.

Exciting files

For his part, sports analyst Majid Al Falasi said that the visa file represents one of the most controversial files before the tournament, indicating that a number of fans coming from different countries are facing difficulties in completing the required procedures or obtaining appropriate appointments despite the start of the competitions.

He explained: “Hosting the tournament was announced early, and it was necessary to prepare well regarding security measures, as it is known that 48 teams will participate, with a strength that may reach more than 10,000 players, technical and medical staff, and companions. The identity of the qualifying teams was determined more than three months ago, which allowed for better handling of the way the teams entered the host country, and the same applies to the referees and organizing bodies in general.”

He added: “This matter has raised wide discussions during the recent period, especially in light of the expectations that millions of fans will arrive in the host cities within a short period of time, as many sports federations and football-related organizations have expressed their concerns about the impact of complex administrative procedures on the movement of fans, knowing that the success of any world championship does not depend only on the quality of the stadiums or the organization within the sports facilities, but is also linked to the ease of access of the fans and their ability to move between the host cities and countries without major obstacles.”

He stressed that there are other concerns related to the crowding of airports, public transportation, and the operational infrastructure on the days of major matches, especially with the increase in the number of participating teams and the increase in the number of matches compared to previous editions, saying: “The expansion of the tournament represents a historic opportunity for the growth of the game globally, but at the same time it imposes unprecedented organizational pressures that require exceptional coordination between the various parties.”

He continued: “Some fans also expressed their concern about the difficulty of moving between some cities due to long distances and varying flight times, which may create additional challenges for fans wishing to attend more than one match on consecutive days, as these challenges require practical solutions that ensure smooth movement and provide appropriate transportation options at acceptable prices.”

Question marks

For his part, sports analyst and former UAE national team and Al-Wahda club player Fahd Masoud said that the sporting and organizational aspect of the tournament also faces many question marks, explaining that increasing the number of teams to 48 teams opens the door to wide discussions about the impact of this on the technical level of the competitions. He added: “Some observers believe that the expansion gives greater opportunities for new teams to participate, while others believe that the large technical differences between some teams may lead to less competitive matches during some stages of the tournament.”

He added: “The pressure of the matches and the intensity of the schedule represent an additional challenge for the teams and players, especially in light of the crowded international calendar in recent years, as many players participate in the tournament after long and arduous seasons with their clubs, which increases the possibility of fatigue from travel and injuries and affects the general technical level of the competitions.”

He stressed that concerns are not limited to the sporting aspects only, but extend to the climatic aspects as well. He said: “Some matches will be held in cities known for high temperatures or weather fluctuations during the summer period, which may be reflected in the performance of the players and the experience of the fans inside and outside the stadiums, as the success of the tournament requires early dealing with these challenges to ensure providing the best possible conditions for all parties.”

He pointed out that the 2026 World Cup, on the other hand, has tremendous opportunities to achieve historical success thanks to the broad participation base and the spread of matches in three different countries, but addressing the current problems remains a basic necessity to preserve the quality of the event and its global value.

He concluded his speech by saying: “The fans are watching an exceptional version of the tournament, but its complete success will remain dependent on the organizers’ ability to reduce challenges related to costs, travel, visas, transportation, and other organizational aspects.”

High prices

For his part, sports analyst and former Al-Jazira and Al-Wasl player, Youssef Abdulaziz, said that the financial aspect is the biggest challenge facing fans after the start of the tournament, explaining that the significant expansion in the number of teams and matches led to an unprecedented increase in demand for tickets, travel and accommodation services, which caused prices to rise to levels beyond the ability of many fans.

He explained: “Following a large number of matches in more than one city has become a huge budget that includes internal air travel, accommodation, and match fees, which may deprive a wide segment of fans of fully living the World Cup experience.”

He pointed out that specialized reports over the past months showed significant jumps in hotel prices within the main host cities, especially on the dates that will witness the playoff matches. He said: “Some fans have already begun to reconsider their travel plans due to the high costs, as the gap between the ability of the fans to attend and the prices of available services may affect the size of the expected crowd attendance in some matches, especially those that do not include large national teams.”

He continued: “Among other challenges is the issue of movement between the cities and the three host countries, as the matches will be held over vast geographical distances compared to previous editions of the World Cup, which imposes additional burdens on the fans.”

He added: “A fan who wants to follow his country’s national team during several matches may have to travel thousands of kilometers in a short period, which increases the costs and increases the logistical exhaustion associated with the trip.”