Adem Yavuz Arslan*
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off across the United States, Canada and Mexico, it is worth remembering a simple truth: Football is never just football.
The tournament that begins today is not only the largest World Cup in history, featuring 48 teams and three host nations. It is also shaping up to be a major test of America’s global image during the second Trump presidency.
The matches will be played on the field, but some of the most consequential stories are unfolding in airports, visa offices, border crossings and political corridors in Washington.
A soft power showcase
Mega sporting events are rarely just about sports.
The Olympics and the World Cup serve as global showcases through which countries project power, prestige and national identity. The 2008 Beijing Olympics were designed to introduce a rising China to the world. Russia used the 2018 World Cup to reinforce its international legitimacy. Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 tournament was part of a broader effort to raise its global profile.
For the United States the 2026 World Cup offers a similar opportunity. Yet there is a fundamental difference.
China, Russia and Qatar used these events to present themselves as more connected to the world. The United States under President Donald Trump is pursuing a markedly different vision, one centered on stronger borders, stricter immigration controls and a more nationalist concept of sovereignty.
This creates an inherent tension between the spirit of the World Cup and the politics of “America First.” The World Cup is built on the idea of crossing borders. Trump’s political brand is built on strengthening them.
The contradiction before kickoff
For years FIFA has promoted the World Cup as a tournament that unites the world. Yet even before the opening whistle, that narrative has faced significant challenges.
Visa disputes, travel restrictions and entry difficulties affecting participants and fans from several countries have exposed the gap between football’s universal aspirations and the realities of modern border politics.
Some complications involving Iran were perhaps predictable given the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran. But other incidents have raised questions about inclusivity and access.
The reported difficulties faced by Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan became emblematic of a larger issue. Artan was reportedly denied entry to the United States despite having valid documentation, with US authorities citing ‘vetting concerns.’”
Whether involving officials, supporters or team personnel, the ability to participate in a global sporting event increasingly depends not only on sporting merit but also on geopolitical circumstances and passport privilege.
For many fans from Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, obtaining a match ticket was only part of the challenge. The greater obstacle was securing entry into the host country. As a result, some of the tournament’s most important debates have shifted from stadiums to immigration checkpoints.
FIFA and Trump: A relationship of necessity
Another defining feature of this World Cup is the relationship between FIFA and the Trump administration.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has cultivated close ties with Trump for years. The success of the tournament depends heavily on cooperation from Washington, from security arrangements and transportation logistics to visa approvals and border management.
That dependence helps explain FIFA’s cautious approach toward policies that might otherwise attract sharper criticism. The organization has traditionally presented itself as politically neutral. Yet the realities of hosting a global event on this scale make complete neutrality increasingly difficult to sustain. The 2026 World Cup once again demonstrates how deeply intertwined sports and politics have become.
America’s soccer moment
The tournament also carries enormous economic significance. Although football is the world’s most popular sport, it has long occupied a secondary position in the American sports landscape behind the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball. That is beginning to change.
The arrival of Lionel Messi in Major League Soccer, expanding media rights deals and growing interest among younger audiences have accelerated soccer’s rise in the United States. The World Cup represents the culmination of that trend.
For FIFA the goal is not simply to crown a world champion. It is also to fully unlock the commercial potential of the world’s largest sports market. In that sense, the tournament is as much an economic project as it is a sporting one.
Who will really win?
We do not yet know which nation will lift the trophy next month. But another question may prove even more important: How will the United States emerge from this tournament?
Will the world see a country that remains open, confident and capable of hosting a truly global event? Or will visa controversies, immigration disputes and political polarization overshadow the football itself? World Cups do more than produce champions. They shape international perceptions. The ultimate winner of this tournament may not only be the team that lifts the trophy. America’s global reputation is also on the field.
And perhaps the most important match of the 2026 World Cup will not be played inside a stadium at all. It will be played in the court of global opinion.
*Adem Yavuz Arslan is a journalist with over two decades of experience in political reporting, investigative journalism and international conflict coverage. His work has focused on Turkey’s political landscape, including detailed reporting on the 2016 coup attempt and its aftermath, as well as broader issues related to media freedom and human rights. He has reported from conflict zones such as Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq, and has conducted in-depth research on high-profile cases, including the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. Arslan is the author of four books and has received journalism awards for his investigative work. Currently living in exile in Washington, D.C., he continues his journalism through digital media platforms, including his YouTube channel, Turkish Minute, TR724 and X.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of Turkish Minute.