world cup

The United States’ military operation and Mexico’s drug war has thrown a wrench into FIFA’s plans.

You cannot help but wonder what Gianni Infantino and Thomas Bach are thinking now. For years, FIFA and the International Olympic Committee viewed the United States as the ultimate prize: a wealthy, stable, sports‑hungry nation capable of delivering record‑breaking revenue and global visibility. Both organizations secured what they wanted. The United States, alongside Canada and Mexico, won hosting rights for the 2026 World Cup. Los Angeles landed the 2028 Summer Olympics. Salt Lake City secured the 2034 Winter Games.

But that was before the geopolitical landscape shifted. The United States is now engaged in military action against Iran, and Iran’s national soccer team has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Under the current schedule, Iran is set to play matches on June 16 and June 21 in Inglewood, California, and June 27 in Seattle. The idea of an Iranian team entering the United States during an active conflict feels nearly impossible. Yet the tournament is only months away.

When the United States, Canada, and Mexico won the 2026 bid, the world looked different. The U.S. was not in conflict with Iran. Mexico was not facing the level of cartel‑driven violence it sees today. FIFA expected challenges, but nothing like this.

The World Cup is scheduled to open June 11 in Mexico City. The question now is whether all qualified nations will be allowed to participate, and whether the United States can guarantee entry for athletes from countries with which it is in direct conflict.

The uncertainty extends beyond 2026. The IOC is preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2034 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Both events rely on the United States’ assurances that all athletes will be welcomed. That promise is now under scrutiny.

Could nations boycott the Games? Could the U.S. restrict entry? Could the IOC be forced into emergency relocation discussions? These are questions global sports leaders hoped they would never face again.

FIFA has weathered controversies before. It survived the Qatar World Cup. It awarded the 2034 tournament to Saudi Arabia. But this situation is different. This is not a diplomatic disagreement or a human‑rights debate. This is an active military conflict involving a qualified nation scheduled to play on U.S. soil.

If FIFA could re‑award the 2026 World Cup today, it might choose differently. Instead, it is locked into a tournament with no clear solution and no historical precedent to guide it.

The world’s biggest sporting events were built on the idea of unity, neutrality, and international cooperation. But the reality of 2026 is testing those ideals in ways FIFA and the IOC never anticipated.

The United States remains the centerpiece of global sports hosting. The question now is whether the world can still meet there.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at [email protected]