U.S. politics could make things a bit tricky for Canada as it prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup.

OTTAWA — With less than a year left until the 2026 World Cup, rising political tensions and U.S. policies could create some hurdles as Canada, the United States, and Mexico gear up to co-host the tournament. Next year’s FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest ever, featuring a record 48 teams from the three nations. From June 11 to July 19, there will be 104 matches, with the majority taking place in the U.S. As millions of fans are expected to travel across borders to catch the action, U.S. President Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies — which include travel bans on certain countries, immigration raids, and mass deportations — are causing quite a bit of concern. “This is all being driven by the United States. And we’re entirely the guilty party here,” remarked Victor Matheson, a sports economics professor at the College of Holy Cross in Massachusetts. “You could run into significant immigration issues with fans and players crossing borders.” Currently, the U.S. has travel bans affecting 12 countries and restrictions on seven others, with discussions about potentially banning travelers from another 36 nations. While there are exemptions for athletes, staff, and their families, the unpredictability of Trump’s administration leaves everyone guessing about what rules might be in place when the tournament kicks off. Economist Andrew Zimbalist, who has written extensively on the economics of hosting the World Cup, noted that Trump has the power to complicate travel, but it’s uncertain whether he will actually take that route. “I think Trump himself might not have the answers because … he tends to react impulsively to changes in his surroundings,” he explained. Concerns over visas or political opposition to Trump could lead some soccer fans to skip the event altogether, while others might choose to attend games in Canada instead, Zimbalist suggested. However, he also highlighted that the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final will all be held in the U.S. A spokesperson for Canadian Heritage mentioned that Canada could welcome a million international fans during the tournament.