The FIFA World Cup, the world’s most prestigious trophy and popular competition is coming to North America this summer. With an expanded tournament from 32 to 48 teams, it has given the opportunity for small nations such as Cape Verde, Curacao and Haiti to qualify for the global competition.
Sandro Louis has been waiting his whole life for this moment.
A Brookdale Community College graduate born in Haiti, Louis grew up dreaming of watching his national team play in a World Cup — not on television, but in person, surrounded by fans waving flags like his.
With the 2026 tournament set to take place across North America, that dream finally felt within reach.
Instead, he expects to watch from home.
“To see my country in the World Cup is everything to me, ” Louis said. “But there’s no way I can afford to go — and for some people, they might not even be allowed in.”
Louis said the combined cost of tickets, travel and accommodations already made attending unlikely. But he said what troubles him more is how access to the tournament itself may depend on where fans come from.
His concern reflects growing criticism surrounding what FIFA promotes as a global celebration, but which critics say is increasingly shaped by financial and political barriers.
Ticket prices for premium matches have surged into the thousands, prompting backlash from everyday people, for whom the tournament should represent.
“It’s becoming a World Cup for the rich,” said Louis, complaining that FIFA’s pricing model is making the event exclusionary rather than open to traditional supporters.
At the same time, U.S. immigration policy has emerged as another point of concern.
Under measures expanded during the administration of Donald Trump, travelers from dozens of countries could be required to post visa bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 to enter the United States — a policy critics say disproportionately affects nations in Africa, the Caribbean and parts of Asia.
In practical terms, advocates say, that means some fans could be asked to pay the equivalent of months or even years of income just for the chance to attend a match.
Human rights organizations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International say such policies create unequal access based on nationality and income, undermining the inclusivity the World Cup is meant to represent.
Barriers like these contradict the idea of a “World Cup” open to the world.
The visa bond program builds upon earlier restrictions, including Executive Order 13769, which limited entry from several countries and raised broader concerns about discriminatory access to global events.
Even for those able to afford tickets and travel, entry is not guaranteed. U.S. officials have emphasized that a match ticket does not ensure visa approval, adding another layer of uncertainty for international fans.
FIFA, led by President Gianni Infantino, does not control national immigration policies but has faced pressure to advocate more strongly for fan access. The organization also continues to contend with criticism tied to its past, including the 2015 FIFA corruption scandal, which damaged trust among many supporters.
Former U.S. men’s national team players Landon Donovan and Tim Howard, speaking on their Unfiltered Soccer podcast, have also raised concerns about the direction of the modern game, including whether major tournaments are drifting away from the everyday fans who built the sport’s culture.
“There’s a responsibility to the fans,” Donovan said during one episode, emphasizing that accessibility and atmosphere are central to what makes the World Cup unique.
Labor groups in host cities have also raised concerns about wages and working conditions tied to tournament preparations, adding to criticism that the event prioritizes profit over people.
For Louis, those issues come down to a simple question: Who gets to be part of the World Cup?
“You grow up thinking the World Cup is for everyone,” he said. “But it doesn’t feel that way anymore.”
Despite the criticism, organizers say demand remains strong and maintain the tournament will unite fans across borders.
For many supporters like Louis, however, that unity will be experienced from a distance — not in the stadium, but on a screen.
The tournament begins in June.
