The biggest World Cup in history is just around the corner, with the United States, Canada and Mexico poised to host 48 teams in the expanded competition.
Soccer finally gets underway on Thursday when Mexico hosts South Africa at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca.
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But even before a ball is kicked, the tournament has already sparked plenty of controversy. Here are the five biggest stories on the eve of the big kickoff.
Iran ticket ‘withdrawn’ by US
Iran’s football federation, FFIRI, announced that the United States has canceled ticket allocations for its team’s World Cup group matches, accusing its co-sponsors of preventing Iranian supporters from attending due to the war.
“As an unexpected step, the quota given to the Iranian Football Federation has been withdrawn, and in the current situation the federation is unable to provide even a single ticket to the supporters of the national team,” FFIRI said.
Since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, the two countries have been in a de facto state of war, and the U.S. has posed several bureaucratic hurdles to Iran, including denying visas to some World Cup support staff.
Neither FIFA nor the US organizers have publicly commented on Iran’s accusations.
Mexico City hit by protests before opening match
The tournament opens in the Mexican capital on Thursday afternoon, but protests are putting pressure on authorities ahead of the crucial match.
Demonstrators from the country’s teachers’ union CNTE have been protesting in Mexico City for several days, threatening to block roads around the Estadio Azteca venue before the opening match.
The CNTE has been on strike since last week demanding higher wages and the repeal of a pension law that the government considers unachievable.
Teachers called for a demonstration on Thursday that would also be joined by the families of more than 130,000 missing people who are said to have been killed or kidnapped by Mexican authorities and criminal organizations.
Security has been stepped up in Mexico’s capital ahead of the opening World Cup match, with President Claudia Sheinbaum reassuring the match will go ahead.
Somali referee returns to Japan after suspension
Referee Omar Altan received a hero’s welcome in Somalia after returning home after being denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup.
The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that the United States had denied Artan entry to the World Cup due to his ties to “suspected members of a terrorist organization.”
Speaking on Wednesday, Artan said the decision to ban him was “fate” and urged his fellow Somalis not to be discouraged by it.
“What happened happened, and it was destiny. I am grateful to FIFA for the support they have given me,” Artan told reporters upon arriving in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu.
FIFA, which awarded Trump the first Peace Prize last year, said it was not responsible for visa or immigration procedures in the host country.
England will manage Saka carefully
Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel says England winger Bukayo Saka is still recovering from an Achilles injury and will need to be carefully managed ahead of the World Cup.
The 24-year-old forward was injured in March but played through the pain and played for Arsenal towards the end of the season. Saka also featured in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, which Arsenal lost on penalties.
“Bukayo is still progressing towards his goals and playing through the discomfort at the end of the season, obviously managing it and playing at a high level, but still not 100 percent. He is the one we are developing and taking care of in training,” Tuchel told reporters on Tuesday.
Saka’s fitness could be key to England’s World Cup ambitions. He played in the 2020 and 2024 European Championships and scored three goals in four appearances at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Warm-up slows down
It may be the eve of the tournament, but many teams are still playing their last friendlies before the World Cup.
England face Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday as the Three Lions continue to acclimate to Florida’s humidity.
Meanwhile, Portugal still has a trip to North America and is scheduled to play a final warm-up match against Nigeria before flying to the United States.
Algeria also have one friendly game left, and will face Bolivia behind closed doors on Wednesday.
The FIFA World Cup begins on June 11th. Check out Al Jazeera’s dedicated 2026 World Cup page for all the latest news, fixtures and live text commentary, and stay up to date with group standings, real-time results and schedules.
