Forbes India
Despite being the grandest edition in the tournament’s history—featuring 48 teams, 104 matches, 39 days of competition, 16 venues and three host nations—the Fifa World Cup has found itself in the spotlight for reasons extending well beyond football.From the geopolitical tensions between one of the host nations (USA) and participating country Iran, to travel restrictions, promises of a Hollywood-style spectacle and eye-watering ticket prices, football’s marquee competition has generated no shortage of off-field headlines in the lead-up to the kickoff on June 11. FIFA’s increased continental allocation has also helped newer nations like Uzbekistan to play in the tournament for the first time. Photo by Fadel Senna / AFPThe more the merrier?Fifa has increased the number of participating teams to 48, up from 32 nations that had featured in the tournament since 1998. This has resulted in an increase in the number of games being played. The 2026 edition will require 72 games to reach the round of 32 alone, while the entire tournament between 1998 and 2022 featured 64. While critics say this might result in an overkill, others believe Fifa’s new rule—which allows 12 third-placed teams from the group stage to progress to the round of 32—might help smaller teams, which is good for the sport.Besides, Fifa’s increased continental allocation has also helped newer nations to gain entry. For example, nine Asian slots, double that of the 2022 edition, have allowed a country like Uzbekistan to play in the tournament for the first time. The cheapest ticket available for smaller matches were priced in the range of $160-170. The tickets for the final, initially priced at $6,750 for the top category, have now risen to $10,990. Photo by Cristopher Rogel Blanquet/Getty ImagesPriced OutWith an increase in the number of games, the World Cup was expected to generate more than 6 million tickets for supporters around the globe. Little did the fans know that they were set to experience the most expensive World Cup of all time.The prices of these tickets start at hundreds of dollars and soar into thousands. The chief culprit behind this has been the dynamic pricing model. The decision has faced major backlash, even prompting the New York and New Jersey attorneys general to serve Fifa with subpoenas, compelling it to disclose details of its sales tactic.According to ticket booking sites, the cheapest ticket available was for a Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia match, with prices in the range of $160-170. The problems emerge with the bigger games. The tickets for the final, initially priced at $6,750 for the top category, have now risen to $10,990.Fifa has defended the pricing strategy on two grounds: As a reflection of the North American market, where people regularly pay hundreds of dollars to attend events; and as a source of revenue that would ultimately be invested in the global development of soccer. Omar Artan, who was named Africa’s best male referee last year and was going to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup match, was denied entry into the US and subsequently removed by FIFA. Photo by Martín Fonseca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty ImagesTrump’s World Cup?Beyond the sheer scale of the event, this is the first instance of a host nation being in a geopolitical conflict with a participating nation. Until a month ago, confusion surrounded Iran’s participation in the event, with Trump even saying that it was not ‘appropriate’ for the team to participate ‘for their own life and safety’. Iran has since moved its base from Arizona to Mexico, and is set to participate in its fourth World Cup.Trump’s immigration policies, in his second term, have also drawn the ire of fans. Four participating nations—Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast—face complete or partial travel bans. Omar Artan, who was named Africa’s best male referee last year and was going to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup match, was denied entry into the US and subsequently removed by Fifa. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, will look to retain the title it won four years ago. Photo by Gustavo Pagano/Getty ImagesThe beautiful gameWill all of this be forgotten once the referee blows the starting whistle? Only time will tell. But here’s a look at some of the players and teams who can make this World Cup their own:France seems to be on a run of golden generations. Led by Kylian Mbappe, the team boasts title winners from across Europe, with many from the PSG side that won back-to-back Champions League titles.Spain, led by a young but scintillating Lamine Yamal, will look to emulate the nation’s greats from the turn of the last decade, and repeat the Cup-winning performance of 2010.Portugal, with arguably the best midfield in the world, travels as another favourite. Led by an ageing but fiercely competitive Cristiano Ronaldo in what would surely be his last World Cup, the team will look to win the only prize that has eluded the Portuguese superstar.Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, will look to retain the title it won four years ago. While almost the entire team that won the title four years ago will take the field again, it remains to be seen whether its ageing side can hold its own.England and the Netherlands, too have great names in their squads but it remains to be seen how far they go in the tournament. One team that is far from its glory days is Brazil—once known for its tricks and flicks, the Samba Boys are a shadow of their predecessors.It’s not just the bigger teams that are set to make their mark in the world cup. Morocco, which reached the semifinals in the 2022 edition, are expected to cause major upsets. Norway, led by Erling Haaland, arrives on the back of a perfect qualifying record.
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