World-2026: D-Day approaches, geopolitical tensions persist

The football world is holding its breath as the start of the 2026 World Cup approaches, extraordinary with 48 participants and organized in three countries (United States, Mexico, Canada), in a context of geopolitical tensions which are already causing damage with a Somali referee turned away and excluded from the tournament.

Monday evening, Fifa announced that a Somali referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, turned away by the American border police on Saturday when he entered Miami (Florida) from Istanbul, would ultimately not officiate during the World Cup.

A first big hiccup for the International Federation, which explained in a press release sent to AFP that it “Does not intervene in the immigration procedures of the host country, including the granting of visas.”.

Omar Abdulkadir Artan nevertheless had a valid visa, according to a senior advisor to the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Somalia, whose citizens are subject to a travel ban to the United States by the Donald Trump administration.

Iraq also experienced administrative hassles upon its arrival in the United States. According to the Guardian, the star striker of the Lions of Mesopotamia Aymen Hussein was detained for almost seven hours on Saturday at Chicago airport, while the official photographer of the selection, Talal Salah, was refused entry into the territory despite having a valid visa.

As for Iran, it is still the subject of particular attention, in the context of the war triggered on February 28 by American-Israeli attacks.

Vagueness still reigns over the conditions of access to the United States for Team Melli, which took up residence on Sunday in Tijuana (Mexico) instead of Tucson (Arizona) as initially planned, due to the refusal of the American authorities to issue long-term visas.

Manifestations prévues à Mexico

The Iranian team must play its three first round matches in the United States (Los Angeles and Seattle). However, if the players and the management received their visas, around fifteen accompanying persons did not obtain the precious sesame, including the president of the federation Mehdi Taj, who served in the Revolutionary Guards, an organization considered terrorist by Washington.

In the meantime, all eyes are on Mexico City, where the opening match of this 23rd edition will take place on Thursday, between Mexico and South Africa, at the legendary Aztec stadium in Mexico City.

“We will ensure (…) that the celebration of the inauguration of the World Cup goes well, in peace and tranquility.”while massive demonstrations by teachers are planned in the capital, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday.

The game will be preceded by a fifteen-minute show, performed by Colombian superstar Shakira who will perform the World Cup anthem with Nigerian singer Burna Boy. “Dai Dai”.

Each host will be entitled to their own ceremony, Toronto taking over the next day before Canada-Bosnia, followed by Los Angeles before United States-Paraguay, at the end of the afternoon.

A foretaste of an event placed by Fifa under the sign of spectacle and entertainment, the president of the body Gianni Infantino having promised « 104 Super Bowls »in the great tradition of« entertainment » à l’américaine.

The final, which will determine the successor of Lionel Messi’s Argentina, on July 19 at the MetLife stadium in East Rutherford (New Jersey), will be the high point with a half-time show, a first for a World Cup.

Messi “I’m doing much better”

A record-breaking World Cup, during which Donald Trump’s United States will take the lion’s share (78 matches out of 104), the tournament should allow Fifa to reap huge revenues ($8.9 billion for 2026, $13 billion over its 2023-2026 cycle).

It remains to be seen how popular the competition will be. In the midst of controversy over the exorbitant price of tickets, less than 30% of American adults say they are interested in the World Cup, according to a survey published on June 2.

While waiting for the kick-off to be given, the teams are beginning to take possession of their base camps and are making final adjustments during preparation meetings, like France who easily beat Northern Ireland (3-1) thanks to a hat-trick from Michael Olise.

On the star side, the health points are intended to be reassuring, like Lionel Messi, affected in the left Achilles tendon and who “I’m doing much better” according to his coach Lionel Scaloni.

The young Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal, recovered from an injury to his left thigh, will be fit for the European champions’ start against Cape Verde on June 16, according to his coach Luis de la Fuente.

As for Neymar’s calf injury, “Elle évolve bien” indicated the Brazilian Federation, without however specifying whether he could participate in the Seleçao’s first match, Saturday against Morocco.