FIFA World Cup 2026: The geopolitical tensions at play off the pitch

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Travel restrictions, safety fears and global tensions are some of the issues hanging over this year’s men’s World Cup, the first to be hosted by three nations.

A man blows a plastic trumpet during a rally in support of Iran's World Cup team in Tehran on May 13, 2026.

A man blows a plastic trumpet during a rally in support of Iran's World Cup team in Tehran on May 13.Vahid Salemi / AP file

June 8, 2026, 10:41 AM EDT

By Mariel Ferragamo

This article was originally published on CFR.org and updated by NBC News.

The mantra of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), soccer’s global governing body, is famously that “football unites the world.” But this summer’s men’s World Cup is set to kick off with both sports and geopolitical tensions on display.

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