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Football and politics collide as World Cup kicks off in shadow of war, travel bans
Key takeaways
- By: FRANCE 24 Video by: Genie GODULA To display this content from You Tube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.
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- Cover image: US President Donald Trump's policies have cast doubt on FIFA president Gianni Infantino's pledge that this will be the "most inclusive" World Cup ever.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The 2026 World Cup kicks off on Thursday with a record 48 teams vying for the most coveted prize in football and a slew of controversies over ticket prices, geopolitical tensions and visa restrictions imposed by the Trump administration casting a pall over the beautiful game’s quadrennial extravaganza.
By: FRANCE 24 Video by: Genie GODULA To display this content from You Tube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.
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Article preview — originally published by France 24. Full story at the source.
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