World Cup Hosts Confront Ebola Curbs, Airport Strains and a Visa Dispute

The three countries hosting the 2026 World Cup are managing several disruptions weeks before the tournament begins. Mexico City's nearly century-old Benito Juarez airport underwent a 500 million dollar renovation, but experts say it may not be enough to handle the surge of arrivals, The New York Times reported.

The United States, Mexico and Canada have also announced Ebola-related travel restrictions ahead of the tournament, Al Jazeera reported, as they prepare for the possibility of an outbreak during an event that will draw visitors from around the world.

Politics has intruded as well. After Iran's ambassador to Mexico criticized the United States for refusing visas to the country's World Cup delegation, American authorities issued visas to all of Iran's players but denied entry to 15 administrative and management staff, including the federation's vice president and secretary-general, according to the Iranian federation. The squad landed in Tijuana, Mexico after moving its base camp from Arizona, an episode that brings the wider conflict between Washington and Tehran into a sporting event meant to stand apart from it.

A World Cup is a large logistical and economic undertaking, and the host economies stand to gain from tourism and spending. The convergence of a health scare, infrastructure limits and a diplomatic dispute shows how exposed even a celebratory event is to the broader strains affecting the global system this year.