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 2026 World Cup is the biggest yet, held across three countries in North America, but it has already made headlines for all the wrong reasons before kicking off

The World Cup kicks off on Thursday with FIFA betting that the enduring appeal of the greatest footballing show on earth can rise above anger at soaring ticket prices, an uneasy…