Columnist's Column Declares United States the Real Loser of 2026 World Cup — Before a Ball Is Kicked

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off this week across three host nations — Canada, the United States, and Mexico — with 48 teams and 104 matches on the schedule. But one columnist has already named the tournament's biggest loser: the United States itself, regardless of what happens on the pitch.

USA Today sports columnist Nancy Armour published an opinion piece this week arguing that no matter how the U.S. Men's National Team performs or how smoothly the tournament unfolds, the country has already revealed itself to be "a hateful and greedy nation."

"The U.S. men's national team could make a historically deep run and the tournament could be filled with wondrous goals and compelling games," Armour wrote. "It will not change the fact that we have shown ourselves to be a hateful and greedy nation, one where leaders are only willing to welcome a world as they want to see it rather than as it exists, and the love of the game is exploited for top dollar."

She went on to say that hosting the tournament will instead become a showcase of the worst of America.

"That will be the legacy, and the shame, of this World Cup. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase the best of the United States and embrace the joy that soccer brings the rest of the world and, instead, we chose to be ugly Americans."

The targets of her criticism

Armour pointed to several Trump administration policies as evidence. She criticized the federal government's handling of visas for members of Iran's national team, which is competing in the tournament, calling the treatment "shameful." She also defended Somali referee Omar Artan, who was reportedly denied entry to the United States over alleged ties to terrorist organizations. Armour described the reasons given as "dubious" and wrote, "We are supposed to be a World Cup host, not a World Cup bouncer."

On Wednesday, President Trump addressed the visa process during remarks to reporters. "We're working very closely to make sure the right people come into our country," Trump said.

Armour also took aim at ticket prices for the tournament, which have drawn widespread criticism. Final-match tickets at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey have been reported at around $6,000, a figure New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani called "absurd." The columnist approvingly quoted Mamdani's critique.

Setting the record straight

A few important facts undercut Armour's central thesis. Ticket prices for the World Cup are set by FIFA, not by the U.S. government. The host country does not determine how much fans pay for seats.

Iran's national team is participating in the tournament. Reports indicate the team skipped the official draw ceremony in Washington but has not boycotted competition itself.

The tournament is also only one match old. Mexico opened the tournament at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday, defeating South Africa 2-0. The United States has yet to play.

And the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which Armour herself criticized for its human rights record, took place amid widespread reports of exploited migrant workers during stadium construction — a backdrop worth keeping in mind when measuring the United States against other recent hosts.

The bigger picture

Armour's column is part of a broader conversation unfolding as the tournament begins. Left-leaning commentators have raised concerns about immigration enforcement, ticket affordability, and the influence of the current administration on what FIFA has billed as the largest World Cup in history. Conservative voices have largely dismissed those criticisms as partisan overreach.

What is clear is that the World Cup, in its opening hours, has already become a proxy for arguments about American identity, foreign policy, and who gets to decide what kind of host the United States will be.

The ball is rolling. Whether the U.S. emerges as a gracious host or a cautionary tale — as Armour has already declared — will play out across 103 remaining matches and dozens of stadiums over the coming weeks.