The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Friday, with the opening match taking place in Mexico City’s legendary Azteca stadium. Amid controversy over FIFA’s President has defended its handling of visa issues experienced by teams and referees ahead of the tournament. Of the three host nations, Mexico is by far the most football-obsessed - but there’s been controversy over ticket prices and concerns about security.
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TRANSCRIPT:
Of the three nations hosting this World Cup, there’s only one that lives and breathes football.
At a junior club in a working-class area of Mexico City, players emulate their favourite national team stars.
But they won’t get to watch them play in person.
Vanesa Dominguez says her son would love to see his idols.
“For them it could be a wonderful experience, even better cause is happening in their country… Imagine that; it could be wonderful. But the prices are excessive, so unfortunately it is sad, very sad.”
It was a very different situation the last time World Cup was held in Mexico.
The 1986 tournament was an enormous success, and saw one of the most infamous moments in football history: the so called ‘hand of god’ goal by Maradona.
Francisco Orvanos was there, having skipped work to watch the match.
"Maradona was incredible. Was incredible. I can’t have words to describe in that moment when Argentina wins that match.”
This time he’s been priced out of his passion.
"I can’t go because the tickets were very expensive. I think FIFA is going to kill the football, the worldwide football.”
In the final ballot release of tickets, a single seat here for the opening match would set you back between 1800 to 2500 Australian dollars.
And on average group stage tickets here at the Azteca are more expensive than any other venue.
FIFA’s boss Gianni Infantino defending the pricing strategy.
“If you sell it at a lower price point, in this particular market, it would have gone, which is perfectly legal in this country, in secondary markets at much much higher prices and where would the money go then? To those who organise black market activities and not to football.”
FIFA’s critics see it very differently.
Rodrigo Marquez Tizano is a Mexican football writer.
TIZANO: "Infantino has gone crazy. FIFA sees the fan as a client, not part of the game anymore.”
LEWIS: "Will you be going to any of the games?”
TIZANO: “No. I’m not nuts, nowhere near to paying that crazy and stupid amount of money to go to a match. You buy their food, you buy their drinks, I’m not making these guys richer than they are.”
Adding to unusual nature of this tournament is the fact the co-hosting countries aren’t exactly getting along.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum is walking a political tightrope, with Donald Trump declaring he may not renew a critical trade deal, and threatening airstrikes against cartels on Mexican soil.
Political analyst Juan Carlos Barron Pastor thinks the relationship could worsen still.
PASTOR: "I think that if the US government could be more hostile they would. They would be more hostile to Mexico. The World cup is helping they cannot be as hostile as they’d like to.”
LEWIS: “So you think the fact they’re co-hosting the world cup means they’ve had to tone down the language to Mexico?”
PASTOR: “I think so, I think so."
Mexico is using the tournament to differentiate itself from its northern neighbour, making a point of welcoming guests from all countries while the United States has refused visas to some Iranian support staff.
And Africa’s top referee.
“We're working on it very closely to make sure the right people come into our country."
FIFA’s boss insists its hands are tied.
“We don't control everything. We try, we will discuss, we will speak, we will see. Maybe sometimes it's good as well to just, you know, chill, relax.”
Despite the various controversies, there is still plenty of enthusiasm on the ground here.
A football mad country, ready to cheer on El Tricolour, and show Mexico puts on a party like no-one else.
