Why the economics makes this the craziest world cup ever
The 2026 World Cup is being described as the most economically and geopolitically complex tournament in history. It features a host nation at war, trade tensions between co-hosts, and the involvement of US President Donald Trump.
Why it matters
The intersection of global sports, international trade wars, and active military conflicts highlights the increasing difficulty of separating major cultural events from geopolitical instability.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Faisal Islam Economics editor BBC Football World Cups are rarely completely politics-free but never has the beautiful game navigated a geopolitical high-wire act of this kind. The main host is at war with a participant, whose team must commute in on match days from another country.
The article focuses on economic and geopolitical analysis of the event, though it mentions controversial political figures.
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