The World Cup 2026 is currently underway in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, where more than 48 teams are taking part in this mega event. We are witnessing highly competitive face-offs. However, what makes this event different is the controversies. From the start of the tournament to the ongoing matches, it has been flooded with issues to talk about. From biased decisions to controversies surrounding visas and accommodation, there has been no shortage of problems.

Visa Controversies

It was clear that many nations would face visa issues. From African nations to Iran, there were visa-related problems. Not only the players but also the fans were affected. Several fans spent millions on accommodation but failed to secure visas. This eventually led to huge financial losses and heartbreak.

The most embarrassing part was that many players and coaching staff also faced visa rejections. One of the biggest names is Thomas Partey from Ghana. Thomas, the former Arsenal star, needs no introduction. He faced restrictions that blocked his entry into Canada for the game against Panama.

Iraqi star player Aymen Hussein faced the most embarrassing setback. When he arrived at the airport, he was detained and interrogated for more than eight hours. This was a major drawback at the management level. Following this, the Senegal national team and even the German national team were interrogated at the airport, where the shoes of German players were even removed. Such a massive blunder by the USA immigration authorities.

Biased Referee Decisions

From the start of the mega event, we have witnessed biased decisions. It all started with the game between Argentina and Algeria, where Lionel Messi made a tactical move that would clearly have been a red card if it had been committed by any other player. However, because it was Messi, the incident did not even result in a yellow card. Critics said that if it had been anyone else, it would have been a red card for sure.

A similar incident occurred in Scotland vs. Morocco, where a crucial appeal was made. Scott McTominay was fouled, and Scotland appealed for a penalty against Morocco. However, the referee allowed play to continue. It was an important moment where the incident should have gone to VAR. Many former referees said it was a clear penalty.

Iran vs. USA

Iran is taking part in the 2026 World Cup, and its request to move its games to Mexico was rejected. To save the image of FIFA, the Iranian Federation was pushed to participate and play in the USA. It marked the beginning of one of the most difficult visits any nation has experienced.

First of all, many members of the Iranian squad faced visa issues. There was also no one from the team’s media allowed to visit the USA. Secondly, Iran was not allowed to stay any longer than necessary in the USA. They were only permitted to arrive on matchday and depart as soon as the game ended. This created a highly stressful environment for the Iranian team, as they were heavily affected by the extreme travel requirements.

These are just a few of the things we have witnessed before the end of the group stage. There will likely be many moidents as the tournament enters the knockout rounds. However, one question still remains: Why has a mega event like this gotten so many things wrong? Does the FIFA president have to answer for this?