2026 World Cup marred by controversies and FIFA's silence
via Gabon Review3 min read
The 2026 World Cup, despite projections of 48 teams, 104 matches, and $13 billion in revenue, is facing scrutiny over several issues. The Palestinian Football Federation reports that 567 Palestinian footballers, including goalkeeper Saleem Al-Ashqar and "Palestinian Pelé" Suleiman Al-Obeid, have been killed since October 2023. Additionally, 265 sports facilities have been destroyed. FIFA has not sanctioned Israel, despite Israeli clubs playing in West Bank settlements, a violation of FIFA rules. Palestinians have filed a complaint against FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the International Criminal Court for alleged "complicity in war crimes." African fans from about 50 countries faced a requirement to pay a visa bond of $5,000 to $15,000 to enter the United States. Although this bond was lifted in May for the five qualified African nations, it was too late for many, as tickets needed to be purchased by April 15. Other African nationals still face this requirement. "Gold" tickets for the event are reportedly selling for up to $5,000. The Iranian team was forced to stay in Mexico, traveling to the U.S. only for matches and returning the same day, with some staff members denied visas. Omar Abdulkadir Artan, the 2025 African Referee of the Year, was detained for eleven hours at Miami airport and deported, despite being slated to be the first Somali to officiate a World Cup match. FIFA stated it does not intervene in visa matters. Gianni Infantino, whose salary has quadrupled to
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Gabon Review.
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