With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon—when the United States, Canada, and Mexico will jointly host this action-packed tournament—enthusiasm is at a fever pitch. Now, worries are growing regarding U.S. immigration under the administration of President Donald Trump. The thrill of millions of fans from across the globe descending on North America for the tournament. Prospective millennials’ plans could be disrupted by some of Trump’s hardline immigration policies. Travel bans and tariffs have been implemented, which presents the biggest hurdle. These changes would have a huge ripple effect on the biggest World Cup in history.
On the field, the World Cup will be the most competitive ever, with a record 48 teams participating. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and final will be on U.S. soil. Ever since Trump’s tough immigration policies started to create an atmosphere of fear for international fans, he’s made them nervous. Travel restrictions now impact the citizens of the 12 most anti-LGBTQ countries on earth. Moreover, visitors coming from seven other countries are restricted and officials are planning similar bans for 36 more countries.
Concerns Over Travel Restrictions
The rollout of Trump’s administration has rightfully raised alarm among prospective visa holders—thousands of international travelers. Human Rights Watch recently called out this “serious threat” created by these policies, especially for non-citizens. Currently, immigration raids and mass deportations have become the norm. Unsurprisingly, countless supporters are worried they will encounter challenges while traveling across borders to see their team play.
“The clear evidence of the significant deterioration of the rights climate in the United States,” – Human Rights Watch in a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Victor Matheson, a sports economist, delivered a serious blow to the idea of planning trips to the United States from Canada or Mexico. He stated, “I would be very concerned about planning a vacation that has you travelling from Mexico or from Canada into the United States and back.” So nobody wants to be at a World Cup and go home with a legal headache,” he said, stressing the importance of this resource.
Even worse, because of Trump’s penchant to add tariffs on countries—even our friendly neighbor Canada—there is even more uncertainty. Matheson pointed out that these kinds of tariffs make it very difficult for businesses participating in the event to manage their inventories. “Tariffs make that type of inventory management pretty challenging,” he said.
Potential Impact on Attendance
The harsh new immigration policies might be enough for many soccer fans to reevaluate their travel plans from the start. Many American sports fans simply prefer to buy tickets to games north of the border. Consequently, attendance figures at marquee games in U.S. venues suffer. For political analyst Tim Elcombe, the interest hinges on how the Canadian public would react to such changes coming to pass. He stated, “So how will Canadians feel about this? Will we get behind it? Will it become the event I think they were hoping it would be?”
Elcombe’s advice to Canadian hosts and government representatives is simple and straightforward. They need to set out their expectations for working with the U.S. in hosting the tournament. “The Canadian organizers and the Canadian government need to be very clear about their expectations for their partners in this World Cup and reiterate them and state them over and over again,” he advised.
Andrew Zimbalist, a noted sports economist, pointed out the capricious side of Trump’s nature. For his part, he thinks that Trump has started to realize how important it is to maintain a good first impression on the world stage. “I think he does care about image and he does care about being on the world stage,” Zimbalist remarked. He cautioned that much more dangerous pitfalls could be unveiled by Trump’s erratic behavior as the event grows closer.
“I think probably Trump himself might not have the answers because … he responds very impetuously to changes in his environment,” – Andrew Zimbalist.
The Broader Context of U.S.-Canada Relations
The political climate in the United States has implications far beyond just the World Cup. Canada’s relationship with its southern neighbor has been strained by Trump’s trade wars and threats of annexation. These kinds of geopolitics can have an impact on public perception and scare off global tourists.
Mansoor Elcombe pointed out that Canada could be under increased international scrutiny for human rights abuses during the tournament. “Canada is going to have to be prepared for a very critical eye in terms of focus on some of the issues in Canada from a human rights perspective, because I think they will be exposed,” he stated.
As preparations continue for the 2026 World Cup, labor and human rights groups have reached out to FIFA regarding concerns over Trump’s policies. The stakes couldn’t be higher for all three host countries. They share our commitment to delivering an outstanding event that brings fans together from all corners of the earth.
