For many football fans, the 2026 World Cup has been a tale of exclusion and travel bans, highlighting the stark inequalities that shape who can attend the tournament. This World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, has brought together nations from across the globe, but the journey for some fans has been fraught with obstacles. The story of Mustafa al Saadi, a 32-year-old laboratory technician from Mosul, Iraq, is a poignant example of this. Al Saadi had planned to travel to the United States to watch Iraq's match against France, but his visa application was still pending as he watched the game from home. This is a stark contrast to his friends who boarded the plane, highlighting the arbitrary nature of visa decisions and the impact they can have on individuals' lives.
The issue of travel bans and entry restrictions is not isolated to Iraq. Supporters from about a quarter of qualifying nations faced travel bans, heightened entry restrictions, or high US visa refusal rates. This has led to a divide in the stands, with supporters from nations with more favorable immigration policies, such as Scotland and Haiti, being able to travel freely, while those from nations with more restrictive policies, such as Iraq and Cabo Verde, are unable to. The inequalities that shaped who could travel were visible in the stands, with the national anthem of Haiti, whose citizens are subject to US travel restrictions, rising from a much smaller pocket of supporters.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, warned that US immigration policies could undermine access to the World Cup, calling for a massive rethink of enforcement to protect human rights and human dignity. The Trump administration's immigration crackdown, including the requirement for some visitors from 50 countries to post visa bonds of up to $15,000, has made it difficult for many fans to attend the tournament. This has led to a sense of exclusion for those who are unable to travel, with fans watching the tournament in hometown fan zones and diaspora communities.
The story of Cabo Verde is a fascinating one. For diaspora communities that spent decades cheering for other countries, the tournament offered the chance to finally cheer for their own. When Cabo Verde held Spain to a scoreless draw, supporters celebrated in Brockton, Massachusetts, where World Cup watch parties had previously been filled with Portugal and Brazil jerseys. The celebration unfolded very differently this year, with Cabo Verde jerseys taking center stage. The team's goalkeeper, Vozinha, made seven saves against Spain, leaving supporters too emotional to sleep and leaving a lasting impression on the community.
In Mosul, hundreds gathered beneath giant screens to watch Iraq's first World Cup match in four decades. The fan zone in al Muthanna, created by local organizers, brought the World Cup to the city, with a man in Iraq's white jersey striding through the crowd on stilts and teenage boys dancing with Iraqi flags. This event transformed Mosul into a global city, showcasing the power of football to bring people together, even in the face of exclusion and travel bans.
The 2026 World Cup has been a reminder of the inequalities that shape who can attend the tournament. It has also been a celebration of the power of football to bring people together, even in the face of exclusion and travel bans. The stories of fans like Mustafa al Saadi, the supporters in Brockton, and the fans in Mosul highlight the human side of the World Cup, and the impact it can have on individuals' lives. In my opinion, the World Cup is more than just a sporting event; it is a moment when geopolitics are on hold, and the host country welcomes people from all nationalities, skin colors, and religions to come together and celebrate football.
