By Matt Underwood 2026 World Cup: FIFA considers moving games from USA to Canada amid immigration policies.
This whole thing about the 2026 World Cup might be getting a shake-up, and it’s all because of some potential issues with getting into the United States. There’s a real buzz going around that FIFA, the big boss of soccer, might be thinking about moving some of the games from the USA to Canada. The main reason everyone’s talking about is the immigration policies and how tough it might be for fans, players, and everyone involved to actually get into the US. There’s a fear that the process of getting visas and the necessary permissions could be a total nightmare. It’s easy to imagine delays, scrutinization, and general stress for people trying to attend.
It seems a bit like things are getting complicated for a huge international event. Imagine all the people who would need to justify every single comment, every social media post, just to get in! It’s not exactly the kind of welcoming vibe that usually goes with a World Cup. And, let’s be real, nobody wants to be caught up in any kind of international incident, so it is a really smart idea to even consider. The idea seems to be to protect both the fans and the integrity of the event. And there are some pretty serious concerns about what kind of reception visitors might get, given the current political climate.
The timing also matters. The 2026 World Cup is going to be huge, with the US, Canada, and Mexico all hosting games. This is the first time the tournament is expanding to 48 teams, so more games, more fans, more everything. It’s a logistical mountain even under the best of circumstances. Given the current situation in the US, a lot of people are saying that this change could be a very wise move to keep things on track. If people are worried about traveling to the USA, especially in the current climate, and are going to be intimidated when they get there, then moving the games would avoid a lot of headaches, and maybe even prevent some very serious trouble.
Of course, there’s the financial side too. Some people have mentioned that Canada might even be a more affordable option. The fees associated with getting into the US could be a deterrent, and so, Canada’s lower costs could be a win-win. Some people will be excited to attend regardless, but others, are not sure that the United States is a safe place to visit right now.
This whole situation also brings up the issue of corruption. FIFA has faced accusations of corruption and, let’s be honest, it’s been a tough few years for the organization’s image. A lot of people are cynical about FIFA’s motives, wondering if the organization is more concerned with currying favor than with the integrity of the game. It’s no secret that FIFA has a history of awarding tournaments to countries with questionable human rights records. The two prior world cups in Qatar and Russia are case studies in the kind of environments that FIFA seems to embrace.
The fact that FIFA officials were seen spending time with certain political figures only adds fuel to the fire. Some people are worried that certain parties have their sights set on the game itself. If you’re already a bit skeptical about the way things work, this doesn’t help. It might even seem like FIFA might be bending over backward for the current regime. If that’s the case, it wouldn’t exactly be a surprise, but it would certainly be disappointing.
There are definitely strong feelings about this. Some people are genuinely worried about the safety of visitors to the United States, which isn’t a great look. People are considering this a dangerous place for foreigners to be, and don’t want to see anyone put in danger. And a lot of people are saying that they’d be totally fine with the games moving to Canada.
But let’s not get carried away. There are some practical challenges to consider, too. Does Canada even have the stadium capacity to handle more games? The reality is that, to use what seems to be the only source for this information, there are only two real places in Canada that are up to the standards needed. The Skydome and BC Place.
So, the idea is definitely interesting. The potential for moving games to Canada is there, but the logistics are what will really matter.