World Cup 2026: The Tournament’s Flaws Are Real, But the Football Has Won Us Over
The 2026 World Cup has delivered on the pitch — but according to The Guardian, almost every concern raised before a ball was kicked has also proven entirely justified off it.
Writing in a wide-ranging assessment of the tournament so far, The Guardian argues that sky-high ticket prices, restrictive immigration policies and Fifa’s apparent disregard for ordinary supporters have all left a mark on what Gianni Infantino billed as the most inclusive World Cup ever. The evidence suggests otherwise. The US and Canada reportedly turned down more than 80% of visa applications from certain countries, meaning fans, journalists and even official team photographers were unable to attend matches. Senegal’s official photographer could not enter Canada, while hundreds of Scotland supporters had their travel authorisations cancelled at the last minute.
The treatment of Iran drew particular criticism. The team went unbeaten through the group stage, only to be eliminated by a late Austria goal against Algeria. Yet throughout the tournament they were reportedly forced to switch training camps, denied their full backroom staff and subjected to punitive travel restrictions — circumstances The Guardian described as ‘outrageous’.
For UK fans following the tournament from home, the visa situation raises uncomfortable questions about what the sport’s governing body actually owes supporters. The piece notes that host nations have historically been expected to relax immigration protocols for a global event — and that failing to enforce that standard now sets a troubling precedent ahead of Saudi Arabia’s hosting in 2034.
Ticket pricing has also come under fire. The Guardian argues that decades of supporter culture have been dismantled in the pursuit of profit, with costs for entry, transport and even water inside stadiums described as exploitative.
On the format, the expanded 48-team structure has not produced the feared drop in quality — Cape Verde and the DRC have both impressed — but the system for progressing best third-place teams has frustrated many, leaving sides in limbo while others prepare for the knockout rounds.
Despite all of this, the football itself has been hard to fault. The group stage averaged 2.99 goals per game — a figure that, if sustained through the knockouts, would make this the highest-scoring World Cup since 1958. The star names have delivered too, with Messi netting five times and Haaland, Mbappé, Dembélé and Vinícius Júnior each scoring four.
The last 32 is now set, with what promises to be a compelling knockout phase ahead. You can keep up with all the action on our World Cup 2026 hub and check the live standings as the tournament enters its decisive stages.