As the World Cup grows more global, many fans still struggle to get there
Summary
The 2026 World Cup became more global with new teams like Cape Verde, Jordan, Uzbekistan, and Curaçao competing for the first time. However, many fans struggled to attend the matches due to visa problems and travel restrictions imposed by host countries. This led to some fans watching games far from the stadiums where their teams played.Key Facts
- Iraq qualified for its first World Cup since 1986, but many fans could not get visas to attend matches abroad.
- Cape Verde, Jordan, Uzbekistan, and Curaçao made their first appearances in the World Cup in 2026.
- Immigration and visa policies for attending the World Cup are set by national governments, not FIFA.
- About 25% of qualifying countries’ supporters faced travel bans, stricter entry rules, or high visa refusal rates.
- Fans often watched World Cup matches in local gatherings far from the actual venues.
- The efforts to globalize the World Cup have increased the diversity of participants but have not solved travel access issues.
- The article gives examples of fans in Iraq and Cape Verde celebrating or disappointed while watching games.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.