Wrapped in paradox: Most inclusive tournament in terms of countries participating yet many excluded

Haxie Meyers-Belkin is pleased to welcome Jules Boykoff, Professor at the Pacific University of Oregon, former professional football player and author on the politics of football. The 2026 FIFA World Cup represents a profound paradox. It is the largest and most inclusive tournament in football history in terms of participating nations, yet it is unfolding amid policies and conditions that exclude many of the very people who make the global game meaningful. Visa restrictions, high ticket prices, immigration enforcement concerns, and geopolitical tensions have transformed what might otherwise be a celebration of sport into one of the most politically charged World Cups in recent memory.