The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins with two fixtures in Mexico today against the backdrop of political firestorms, accusations of exorbitant ticket price-gouging, severe US travel restrictions, geopolitical fallout from the United States, Israel-Iran war, and major environmental concerns.What should have been the greatest show on earth, expanding from 32 teams to 48, has now been shrouded in controversy, with football’s world governing body being accused of genuflecting to the US in presenting a tournament that is an anti-fan money grab scheme.The tournament follows significant changes in immigrant policies under US President Donald Trump, with the usual courtesies rolled out for the millions of fans that travel to the international showpiece being turned back.In an unprecedented move, which sent shockwaves across the international football fraternity, Africa's top referee, Omar Artan of Somalia, was barred from entering the US by Customs and Border Protection just days before the tournament due to a unilateral travel ban.The 34-year-old was on the verge of becoming the first Somalian to officiate at football’s biggest stage, but the Trump administration, in a statement two days after he was detained and returned to Somalia, which is among the countries on a travel ban, claimed he was denied entry because of his "association with suspected members of terror organisations”.The backlash has been fierce, and though Canada has since said Artan is welcome to officiate in games in that country, FIFA logistics mean he will not create history.Other high-profile arrivals have also experienced aggressive border enforcement, including Iraq’s star striker Aymen Hussein, who was held and interrogated for seven hours upon landing in Chicago.Tourist visas for citizens of participating nations like Senegal and the Ivory Coast have been suspended entirely over past visa-overstay concerns, and fans from dozens of other ‘banned list’ nations are effectively shut out of attending.Iran’s team has been banned from spending a night in the US and forced to fly back and forth between Mexico and the match venues state side — and their fans have been bannedOn the field there will be four debutants, including Curacao, from CONCACAF, as well Cape Verde, Jordan and Uzbekistan.Despite the ongoing imbroglio, however, excitement is expected to significantly increase when the tournament kicks off today, with co-hosts Mexico hosting South Africa at the legendary Azteca Stadium, in a repeat of the 2010 curtain-raiser at 2 p.m. Jamaica time and South Korea playing Czechia at 9 p.m. Jamaica time.The 2026 World Cup runs until July 19, making it the longest-ever edition of the FIFA competition, and will see 16 host cities, 11 in the US, as well as cities in Canada and Mexico. karen.madden@gleanerjm.com