The FIFA Men’s World Cup of 2026 was always going to offer visitors and spectators something different.  Shared between three countries – Mexico, Canada and the United States – the latter of the three was set to be the designated font of mischief and disruptive mayhem.  Add to this the rapacity of the world footballing body on ticket pricing, and we have a tournament foundering even before the first ball is kicked.

Of nagging concern are the various travel impediments that have been impressed upon ticket holders.  Previous tournaments have seen FIFA mint arrangements with host countries granting exemptions on various immigration and entry requirements. Brazil permitted free temporary visas for ticket holders for the 2014 tournament.  Russia and Qatar permitted entry with Fan IDs and Hayya cards, documentation sweetened with the offer of free public transport.  

Analysis of US State Department data conducted by the BBC reveals a visa rejection rate greater than 40% for 11 of the 48 countries that have qualified.  (The 11 in question comprise Ecuador, Egypt, Haiti, Algeria, Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan, Iran, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana and Senegal.) 

Analysis of US State Department data conducted by the BBC reveals a visa rejection rate greater than 40% for 11 of the 48 countries that have qualified.  (The 11 in question comprise Ecuador, Egypt, Haiti, Algeria, Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan, Iran, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana and Senegal.) 

This percentage includes applicants of all types. The rejection rate for B1 business and B2 tourist visa applications for all countries – the type suggested for fans travelling to the tournament – comes in at a far from negligible 34%.  

While citizens from 42 countries can travel to the US on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a feature of the........

© Middle East Monitor