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The biggest tournament in football history is facing criticism over commercialization, environmental impact, high prices and political ties between FIFA and the organizers.
The 2026 World Cup marks the beginning of an era where economic factors are increasingly influencing the way football's biggest events are staged. As the German Football Association (DFB) prepares for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, criticism of the expanded format and FIFA's policies is mounting.
In the heart of New York, the DFB has opened its first “German House of Soccer,” a 2,000-square-meter space with a capacity for 750 visitors. It will serve as a meeting point for German fans during the tournament, with match broadcasts, cultural activities and the participation of former world champions such as Mario Götze and Benedikt Höwedes.
Meanwhile, the 2026 World Cup will be the biggest ever. FIFA has expanded the tournament from 32 to 48 teams and from 64 to 104 matches. Critics argue that this format dilutes the sporting level of the group stage and significantly lengthens the competition without any clear benefit to the quality of the game.
The high cost to fans has also caused concern. Ticket prices, accommodation and transport have increased significantly. For many fans, attending matches up close is becoming increasingly difficult financially.
Former Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann, who is working with FIFA and the DFB on the tournament, praises the unifying potential of football and the symbolic importance of New York as a global city. However, former footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger is more critical of the relationship between US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, seeing it as part of a system where political and economic interests have gained too much weight.
Critics say FIFA is increasingly orienting its decision-making towards financial profit. The organization expects record revenues of over $11 billion from the 2026 World Cup, while for the period 2023–2026 it has announced a target of $13 billion in total revenues.
The tournament is also facing criticism for its environmental impact. The New Weather Institute considers this World Cup to be potentially the most climate-damaging in history, due to the long journeys that millions of fans will make between 16 host cities in three different countries. The University of Lausanne also warns that the event could leave the largest CO₂ emissions footprint in the history of international sport.
Human rights groups have also raised concerns about restrictions on entry into the US for fans from several countries, including Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast. Human Rights Watch warns that the tournament risks being characterised by exclusion and fear, while Amnesty International has expressed concern that it could become a platform for repression.
Another element of the debate is the tense relationship between the United States and Iran. If both nations finish second in their respective groups, they could face each other in the knockout stage, adding to the sporting interest but also the political sensitivity of the tournament.
According to the author of the article, the DFB has significantly softened its critical tone towards FIFA during the Qatar World Cup in 2022. While then German officials spoke openly about human rights issues, today the federation is focusing mainly on the sporting aspect.
Despite the criticism, millions of fans around the world are expected to enthusiastically attend the tournament. However, the 2026 World Cup is seen by many observers as a symbol of a football where economic, political and commercial interests are taking an increasingly dominant role. /Adapted from Fr.de/
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