The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, kicks off this Thursday, 11 June, and is already mired in controversy. Donald Trump has done everything in his power to hog the limelight at this global event. But the consequences of his policies are spoiling the party even before the first whistle has blown. Two years of Donald Trump’s excesses have, on the one hand, deeply affected relations between the three host nations. On the other hand, fans from all over the world are facing unaffordable prices, endless journeys and, for a number of nationalities, discriminatory immigration policies and ICE raids. With the war in the Middle East raging, the Iranian team must make the journey without a large part of its staff and under uncertain security conditions. To top it all off, the World Cup, billed as the most polluting in history, will take place in sweltering heat… Enjoy the game!