Imagine attending a dinner party where the hosts themselves are embroiled in conflicts. Fans coming to watch the first-ever jointly hosted football World Cup in North America will face three neighboring countries that have long-standing tensions. The competition will take place across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In December, leaders from these three nations met in Washington, D.C., where they were seen taking selfies with FIFA president Gianni Infantino in an effort to put aside their differences. However, ensuring cooperation throughout the 39-day tournament will present a unique challenge.
US President Donald Trump has claimed dominance for his country in North America. This implies that if Trump returns to power, underlying tensions concerning trade, immigration, and drug trafficking could resurface. On the other hand, if managed effectively, there is potential for closer relations among the three nations. While tensions exist in trade and tourism, Trump has remained firm in regarding Mexico and Canada as America’s primary trading partners, and these two countries are the first to face added tariffs.
No World Cup in history has ever been jointly hosted by three nations. The 2026 tournament will be truly continental, involving multiple entities. One major challenge will be organizing immigration controls as fans travel from one country to another, a concern already raised by many officials. Heightened security worries, exacerbated by tensions with Iran, could lead to complications, turning what seem like routine events into controversial incidents.
Each leader aims to showcase cooperation with their neighbors and boost their domestic standing by minimizing criticism during the event. In Mexico, uncertainty and frustration surrounding the preparations persist. Concerns have been raised about the readiness of the capital’s main airport, pressure on public transportation, and issues related to the renovated Azteca Stadium. Furthermore, a nationwide teachers’ union protest demanding pension and other benefits is underway, risking blockades along critical routes to the games.
The outlook for these three countries may extend beyond the World Cup. Analysts suggest that if the tournament is successfully managed, it may pave the way for positive outcomes in other areas as well. The three nations are currently facing a challenging review phase of the USMCA, the North American free trade agreement. This review has cast uncertainty over a trade partnership that has existed since 1994.
