5 Big Issues The U.S. Must Solve Before The World Cup Kickoff

The Fifa World Cup trophy is displayed ahead of the draw for the 2026 Fifa World Cup European qualifiers at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, on December 13, 2024. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Prior to the very first World Cup in 1930, work on the new 100,000-capacity Centenary Stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay fell behind schedule. At the tournament's kickoff, it was not ready, but with builders working 2.

4 hours a day, it was ready for Uruguay’s opening match against Peru on July 18. That started a tradition that has been followed by just about every World Cup since. Not surprisingly, the 2026 FIFA World Cup makes what transpired almost a century ago a cakewalk as it finds itself with more than its share of headaches prior to the June 11 kickoff.

There are many challenges, from security funding, ticket pricing, geopolitical concerns, visa concerns and the unpredictable summer weather across four time zones in the United States, Mexico and Canada. TOPSHOT - Russian riot policemen take part in special security exercises at the Saint-Petersburg Stadium (Krestovsky Stadium) in Saint Petersburg on April 20, 2018, ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia. The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be taking place in Russia from June 14 to July 15, 2018.

(Photo by OLGA MALTSEVA / AFP) (Photo by OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Security funding delays The slow release of security funds made for some uneasy moments, especially for the a tournament that will include 104 matches over a 38-day period. Funds were due to host cities on Jan. 30, but the Department of Homeland Security, houses the Federal Emergency Management Agency, missed that deadline.