Overview
- The tournament began on June 11 with an opening ceremony at Estadio Azteca and matches staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico under a new 48-team format that includes a record eight Arab nations.
- U.S. authorities barred Somali referee Omar Abdiratan after extended screening at Miami airport, FIFA removed him from the officiating roster, and Somalis have launched a high-profile fundraiser aiming to give him $1 million.
- Visa and extra-vetting rules under President Donald Trump’s administration have produced refusals and extra scrutiny for referees, team staff, journalists and fans from multiple countries, forcing some supporters to cancel travel plans.
- Organizers have emphasized large cultural programming to broaden the event's appeal, with Shakira and Burna Boy headlining the Mexico opening and FIFA scheduling a first-ever World Cup final halftime show featuring Madonna, Shakira and BTS.
- The combination of tightened entry rules, credentialing frictions and worker concerns has contributed to falling international hotel bookings and growing diplomatic criticism that could affect the tournament's economic returns.