2026 FIFA World Cup: The Problems National Teams Are Facing Just Days Away From the Event
Time is running out. We are just days away from the FIFA World Cup, with countries, cities, and venues ready to receive hundreds of players and even more fans. However, not everything is running smoothly, and despite the extensive preparations, things still look unclear for some teams. Visa troubles, Ebola, and war are keeping three nations from swiftly traveling to the host countries like every other team. It is understandable for an event of these proportions to have problems now and then. Still, it is concerning when some of these troubles jeopardize the participation of a team that legitimately qualified for the World Cup. Fans can only hope that all 48 teams will make it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
South Africa Faces Visas Troubles
South Africa has been unable to secure visas for the assistant coach and team doctor, among other non-player members of the African nation’s national team, to travel to Mexico via the U.S. Bafana Bafana is set to play a friendly against Jamaica this Friday before playing the opening game of the World Cup against the host country, Mexico. The South African team was scheduled to depart Johannesburg earlier this Sunday, but has remained stranded due to a lack of documentation required to transit through the United States to Mexico. Nevertheless, the Bafana Bafana is determined to leave Africa on Monday, no matter what. Fortunately for them, the visas to play in the United States have already been issued for all the players.
Iran Still Struggles
The Iranian team has had serious administrative issues with the World Cup organization since the start of the airstrikes from the U.S. and Israel against the Middle Eastern nation. Team Melli tried moving its U.S.-based games to Mexico, with President Claudia Sheinbaum backing the idea. Unfortunately for the Iranians, their matches were not moved despite all the complaints. FIFA granted them the option to commute from the Mexico border city of Tijuana to their games in Los Angeles, which they accepted. To move across the border, the Middle Eastern team players will need a multiple-entry visa, which they have yet to obtain. The Iranian Lions’ journey to the World Cup has been far from easy; hopefully, they will be able to compete without any obstacles.
Congo Fighting Ebola
Two weeks have passed since the start of an alarming Ebola outbreak in DR Congo. More than 1,000 cases have been diagnosed, and over 200 deaths have been reported. The African team arrived in Belgium earlier this week to train and play two friendlies against Denmark and Chile, respectively, before their World Cup opening match against Portugal in Houston, scheduled to take place on June 17th. Due to the disease’s deadly nature, the DRC players have been instructed by U.S. authorities to remain in isolation for three weeks, to avoid any chance of infection. As of now, no non-U.S. citizen who has been in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan in the last three weeks can enter the United States, which means that most Congo fans will not be able to attend any games. Fortunately, all the players had not been in DRC before meeting in Belgium, simplifying the process for the national team.
Final Thoughts
The biggest sports event in the history of humanity cannot disappoint. In order for the 2026 edition of the World Cup to be a success, all teams must be present, and all teams have to play their designated games. Ensuring the fair participation of all the qualified nations has to be a priority for FIFA and a priority for all the hosting countries. We can just hope that all teams will be able to make it to the host countries and all fans will be able to enjoy their country’s games one way or the other.
