FIFA World Cup 2026 faces mounting scrutiny over unprecedented scale of issues

Concerns surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026 have intensified months before kick-off, with senior FIFA figures already acknowledging that preparations have not unfolded “as expected”. What was initially framed as a return to familiar ground, with Canada, Mexico, and the United States as co-hosts, has instead become a tournament overshadowed by a widening list of disputes and controversies.