Is the 2026 World Cup bringing people together or leaving out real fans?

FIFA can organize a global tournament, but it can't make sure everyone can attend.

When Canada played South Africa in Los Angeles, I saw many Canadian fans.

Many Canadian fans came to the game. The players liked seeing them. Fans are very important to the World Cup. They feel happy, sad, and connected during the games.

Fans are not just there to make money for the tournament. They make the games more fun and interesting. I've been to games in Toronto, and the fans are excited and love their country.

After Canada's first game, a player said the fans helped the team by cheering them on.

The World Cup needs fans from around the world to be a success.

This tournament has had some problems with politics and unfair rules for some teams like Haiti and Iran.

If players and officials have problems, imagine how hard it is for fans from those countries.

I asked a sports expert about Canada's reputation and what's really happening.

She said the problem with visas is bigger than just Canada. It shows that even the biggest sports events can't guarantee everyone can come.

FIFA organizes the tournament, but governments decide who can attend. FIFA can invite everyone, but governments choose who can come.

The United States has had problems, but what about Canada? A country that loves soccer should want fans from other countries to come.

Last week, a news story said less than half of the people who applied for visas to come to Canada were approved.

People from countries that don't need a visa to come to Canada were more likely to be approved. People who needed a visa had a harder time.

Most people from countries that don't need a visa were approved, but only a few from countries that need a visa were approved.

Sports and politics are connected, and it's not always a positive relationship.

I was surprised by the numbers and asked the government for an explanation. If Canada is hosting the World Cup, shouldn't they want fans from all over to come?

There are reasons why some people's visa applications are rejected, such as criminal history or health problems.

I went to a game between Senegal and Iraq, and I saw many Iraqi fans, but they were mostly from Canada or the US, not Iraq.

I talked to fans from Senegal, and they said it was hard for people from their country to get visas to come to Canada.

I met with journalists from Senegal, and they said the biggest problem for them was getting the resources to cover the games in Canada.

A World Cup referee from Somalia was not allowed to enter the US.

A journalist from Senegal told me that many journalists had trouble getting visas to come to Canada and cover the games.

He said it was easier to cover the World Cup in 2002, when it was held in Japan and South Korea, because there was a special visa system for journalists and players.

He was happy to be in Canada and would cover the games from there.

Some countries, like Pakistan or Nigeria, are not playing in the World Cup, so it's not as important for them to come.

But Ghana played in Toronto, and only a few fans from Ghana were able to get visas to come to Canada.

Senegal had even fewer fans approved for visas.

Haiti played in the World Cup, but not in Canada. Only a few fans from Haiti were able to get visas to come to Canada.

The government said that the number of visas approved is not the only measure of how many people are coming to the tournament.

Some people already have visas or other travel documents, and some are coming from the US.

An expert said that countries have the right to decide who can enter, and the visa numbers show that access to the World Cup is not just about sports.

She said the World Cup is meant to bring fans together, but who can come is still decided by governments and visa systems.

An Iranian soccer official said he was talking to authorities after a former military commander was not allowed to enter Canada.

I saw many Iraqi fans at a game, but they were mostly from Canada or the US, not Iraq.

The stadium was full of Iraqi fans, but it's different when the fans are from the actual country, not just expats.

Is soccer bringing the world together, or is it using a system that leaves out real fans?

The World Cup needs fans from all over the world to be special, no matter where they're from.

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