Friday, 12 June 2026
Rīga TV

World and Latvian news in one place

SportsPublished: 12 June 2026 at 01:10

World Cup becomes test at US borders even before kickoff

The FIFA World Cup final tournament starts today across the USA, Canada, and Mexico for the first time, but US immigration policy is already denying entry to teams and fans from certain countries.

Foto: LSM (rus)

Today marks the start of the FIFA World Cup final tournament, which for the first time in history is being held in three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. A total of 48 teams are taking part, with millions of spectators expected to watch the matches live.

However, the excitement surrounding the long-awaited event is being overshadowed by US immigration policies. Already, both team members and football fans from countries not on the desired list are being denied entry at the border. This has turned the World Cup into a challenge for many even before they can reach the stadiums.

More in this category