Why super-sized and politicised World Cup comes at a cost

ByDan RoanSports editor in Mexico CityPublished12 minutes ago"Simply the greatest event that humanity, that mankind, has ever seen". The words of Fifa president Gianni Infantino when hailing this summer's World Cup across the United States of America, Mexico and Canada. Never afraid to hype football's showpiece event, the head of the world governing body has portrayed the first pan-continental version as the most inclusive, welcoming and unifying to date. But many others would choose different superlatives. The most politicised, for instance. And the most expensive. Potentially the hottest, or the most polluting. Certainly the most lucrative for Fifa. Whatever one's perspective, it seems certain that away from the on-field spectacle, this super-sized World Cup could be among the most contentious ever. From controversy over the costs to fans, the impact of geopolitics and immigration policies, to security, extreme weather, sustainability and the role of US President Donald Trump, it inspires trepidation as well as excitement. So what will be the principle issues? How did we get here? And what is at stake? Listen on SoundsAs the eyes of the footballing world focus on Mexico City before Thursday's opening match, the co-hosts provide a vivid snapshot of what makes the next few weeks so compelling and challenging. Here in this footballing hotbed, a city that has provided the tournament with some of its most iconic moments, the legendary Estadio Azteca is ready to make history as the first venue to host the start of three different World Cups. It is a tantalising prospect. But just as in the neighbouring US, where around 75% of the matches will take place, the high cost of tickets has caused concern, as has security in a country that has suffered from major cartel violence this year. World Cup player statues in the capital have been toppled by protesters, with teachers demanding higher wages threatening to disrupt matches if their wishes are not met. Meanwhile, in Tijuana, the presence of the Iran squad is a consequence of the complex political tensions surrounding the sporting action. No other World Cup has been spread over three countries. Nor has it involved as many as 48 teams and 104 matches. But beyond its sheer scale, this tournament is unprecedented in other ways. Never before, for instance, has a host country been at war with a participating nation. Just last month, Fifa confirmed the Iran team had moved its base from Arizona to Mexico, the latest result of the military campaign launched in February, when the US and Israel attacked Iran, sparking retaliatory strikes across the Middle East. While a ceasefire came into effect in early April, strikes between the two sides have continued. In the past few months, confusion has surrounded Iran's participation, with President Trump at one stage warning it was not "appropriate" for the team to participate "for their own life and safety". His special envoy even suggested that Iran should be replaced by four-time winners Italy, who had failed to qualify. Iran now look set to take part in a fourth consecutive World Cup, although the country has accused the US of denying visas to some executives and backroom staff, with an official claiming the players had been told they must enter and leave the US on the same day of their three group matches there. Iran's embassy in Turkey also accused the US of "politically-biased interference in sport". With Fifa reportedly set to ban the pre-revolutionary Iran flag from tournament venues, their games will be politically charged, especially with the first two taking place in Los Angeles, home to a large Persian community. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, World Cup matches are taking place in 16 cities across United States, Mexico and Canada Eight years ago, Fifa awarded the 2026 World Cup to United States, Mexico and Canada as it was trying to recover from the existential corruption scandal sparked by the hugely controversial votes in 2010 for Russia and Qatar to stage the tournament in 2018 and 2022. With both those countries forced to deny allegations of bribery, a World Cup in North America must have seemed much less risky, with stadium infrastructure already in place. The other major attraction was financial. Fuelled by multi-billion dollar broadcasting and sponsorship deals, the expanded tournament in the world's most commercialised sports market will be the most lucrative event in sports history, with Fifa set to make a record $9bn (£6.74bn) this year alone. Such riches will enable it to redistribute $2.7bn to the national football associations over the next four years. That helps the game's global development and will increase the chances of Infantino winning a third re-election next year. But controversy over the way in which much of this money is being generated has defined much of the build-up to the World Cup. Back in 2018, those behind the bid said tickets to the final would cost a max

Why super-sized and politicised World Cup comes at a cost

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