Infantino defends World Cup ticket prices, says fans ‘should chill’ about ref denied US entry

Their varied responses testify to both the maddening complexity of contemporary life and the enduring wonder of world soccer.

When Lionel Messi lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy in Lusail, Qatar, after his Argentina team defeated France in 2022, close to 1.5 billion people were watching.

While FIFA hoped all eyes would be on reigning champions Germany playing Bolivia in the opening match of the 1994 World Cup at Chicago’s Soldier Field, Americans instead were transfixed as the former footballer and actor turned suspected killer led police on a bizarre, two-hour, low-speed chase across Los Angeles.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup faces criticism over strict visa checks on teams from countries like Senegal and Uzbekistan, high travel costs, visa hurdles, and US immigration policies.