The biggest sporting event on the planet is supposed to be a celebration. For the journalists tasked with covering it, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is shaping up to be something closer to an obstacle course of visa denials, safety threats, and border harassment.
The International Federation of Journalists has issued a pointed warning about press freedom risks surrounding the tournament, which kicks off June 11 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The concerns aren’t hypothetical. Three journalists were killed in Mexico in 2025 alone, all of whom had reportedly received threats before their deaths.
A dangerous beat gets more dangerous
Mexico has long ranked among the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. Reporters investigating organized crime and corruption face routine intimidation, and that violence doesn’t pause for a soccer tournament.
The IFJ’s concerns extend well beyond physical safety in Mexico, though. Restrictive visa policies are already creating barriers for journalists from specific regions. Reporters from African nations and Iran have faced refusals that effectively bar them from covering the event, according to the federation’s findings.
