Security Measures and ticket Access for the 2026 World Cup
The White House is prioritizing national security as preparations continue for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United states, Canada, and Mexico. Officials have not ruled out potential visa limitations for citizens of certain countries, building on existing restrictions affecting nationals from 19 “third world” countries. Currently, fans from Iran and haiti, both with teams qualified for the final phase, are anticipated to face limitations.
The focus of these potential restrictions is ensuring the safety of both American citizens and international travelers attending the event. According to White House statements, every visa decision is viewed through a national security lens, and there will be “very limited tolerance” for anyone attempting to cause problems. Security planning is drawing on lessons learned from previous major international events, including the 1994 World Cup held in the US, the 2002 Olympic Games, and recent World Cup hosting experiences like Qatar, as well as insights from organizations like the International Center for Police Cooperation and the 2024 euro Cup in Germany.
Access to the World Cup will also be impacted by ticket pricing. Tickets for the group stage will start at $60, while final match tickets could reach $6,750 or more due to FIFA‘s “dynamic pricing” system. New york City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appealed to FIFA to lower ticket prices for local residents in host cities.
In response, FIFA has decided to limit the widespread use of dynamic pricing and will reserve 8% of tickets for each match for fans of the competing federations at fixed prices. The remaining tickets will be subject to demand-based pricing.
The 2026 World Cup will be substantially larger than the 1994 event, featuring 48 teams (compared to 24 in 1994) and encompassing three host countries. Organizers anticipate a global audience of approximately 2 billion viewers for the final match, reflecting the growing popularity of soccer both in the United States and worldwide – a viewership that has increased from hundreds of millions in the 1990s and early 2000s to 1.5 billion currently.
