World Cup, American Style

When the decision was made to host the world’s biggest sporting event in a country that considers itself the global boss, it was expected that something extraordinary would happen. But when football — the ultimate symbol of globalisation — collided with Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ nationalism, the result has been nothing short of a historic logistical disaster.

This is not a normal World Cup. It is a tournament where football takes a backseat and American visa rules dominate. International media reports reveal that the US immigration department is treating football fans and teams as if they are not coming to watch a match but to take over America.

Top African referee Omar Artan was not allowed to enter the USA. Iraqi star striker Ayman Hussein was detained for hours at the airport while his phone was thoroughly checked. The entire staff of the Iranian Football Federation was denied visas. Iran’s team has been advised to leave for Mexico’s Tijuana immediately after their matches. They have been allowed to arrive in Los Angeles just 24 hours before their next game.

Uruguay’s team was stuck in Mexico until a day before their match against Saudi Arabia because their flight documents were not being processed by the American system.

When America got the World Cup, hotel owners had already polished their vaults expecting millions of fans to fill their rooms with dollars. But the Trump administration’s immigration policies have left the hotel industry in despair. A recent LinkedIn report headline says it all — ‘World Cup crowds are not filling hotel rooms.’

Hotel prices were hiked by up to 300%. A normal room was being rented for $400 per night. But the immigration department rejected visas for more than half of the international fans. Fans from Algeria, Senegal, and Tunisia were asked to deposit a $15,000 security bond. Naturally, very few common fans could afford this.

As a result, international fans stayed home. The American Hotel and Lodging Association reports that 80% of hotels in host cities have much lower bookings than expected. FIFA had to cancel thousands of reserved room blocks at the last minute.

Even if you manage to get a visa and book an expensive hotel, FIFA’s new ticketing system awaits you. This time, American corporate thinking and FIFA have created a ‘variable and dynamic pricing’ system that can only be described as looting. Ticket prices skyrocket as demand increases.

According to an Associated Press report, simple group stage matches that should cost around $100 are being sold for up to $1,200. For the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the minimum ticket price starts at $1,490 and goes up to $11,000.

American lawmakers and several state attorneys general have accused FIFA of price gouging. On top of that, FIFA has made it strict that fans cannot resell tickets on external platforms. Full control remains with FIFA, which is earning heavy commissions.

Football was once called the game of the poor, but America and FIFA have turned it into a spectacle only for Silicon Valley billionaires and Instagram influencers. Real football fans who used to drum, wave flags, and fill stadiums are now watching empty seats and VIP boxes on their TV screens.

America has a habit of turning every sport into a Super Bowl. Football has its traditional rhythm — 45 minutes first half, 15-minute break, 45 minutes second half. But American organisers felt it needed more drama. They changed the rules so that the final will have a long halftime show featuring pop stars like Madonna, Shakira, and BTS.

This decision has caused an uproar in the football world. European broadcasters and players’ unions are protesting that this is not a pop concert. A break longer than 15 minutes will cool down the players’ muscles and increase injury risk. But the American market cares more about advertising slots than players’ knees.

For Indian fans, the time zone has made this World Cup a mental torture. When it is 8 PM in America, it is 5:30 or 6:30 AM in India. Some matches start at 3 AM. An average Indian working person now faces the dilemma of waking up at night to watch matches or going to the office to face the boss’s scolding the next morning.

The cost of travelling to America to watch a match — visa fees, $15,000 security bond, expensive flight tickets — easily crosses Rs 8-10 lakh. In that amount, one can buy a good SUV or a small plot in a Tier-3 city in India.

Donald Trump made policies to separate America from the world, but he probably did not realise that sports do not respect borders and walls. When you host the world’s most popular sport, you are supposed to open both your heart and your doors. America kept its doors closed but tried to pull football in through the window.

The result is there for everyone to see — empty hotel rooms, players and officials running from one visa office to another, sky-high ticket prices, and pop music being served in the name of football.

In Trump’s America, while they claimed to make the country ‘great’, they have turned the FIFA World Cup into a historic ‘disaster’. The soul of the game has been sacrificed on the altar of market and nationalism, leaving behind only empty stadiums and frustrated fans.