Sports
Is World Cup hosting ‘curse’ real pattern or just media hype?
Every four years, the FIFA World Cup lands in a new country and with it comes an almost inevitable wave of controversy.
From human rights criticisms and logistical nightmares to spiraling costs and political backlash, hosting the world’s most-watched sporting event can feel like a poisoned chalice.
But is this so-called “curse” a genuine pattern, or is it a myth amplified by media scrutiny and social media hysteria?
History suggests it is a complex mixture of both. Hosting exposes real systemic flaws, yet the narrative of a supernatural curse often overshadows the nuance.
Early controversies
Controversy has been baked into the World Cup from its very first edition.
Uruguay’s inaugural tournament in 1930 was a logistical disaster waiting to happen.
Teams traveled by boat across the Atlantic and some European squads never made it because the journey was too expensive or complicated.
Egypt, for example, famously missed the boat that was supposed to pick them up and were left behind, unable to participate.
Only four European teams eventually competed, underscoring how infrastructure and travel hurdles have been a central challenge for hosts since day one.
Italy’s 1934 edition under Benito Mussolini turned football into fascist propaganda, with choreographed crowds and militarized security, drawing criticism for normalizing authoritarian rule.
By 1978, Argentina’s military junta used the World Cup to whitewash its Dirty War atrocities, detaining thousands of dissidents during the tournament.
These early controversies demonstrate that backlash has always been embedded in the event, often driven by politics rather than sport.
Modern era
The 21st century intensified the perception of a hosting curse.
Japan and South Korea’s co-hosted 2002 tournament faced skepticism over Asian football culture and complex logistics, with fans navigating a network of 16 flights to see all games.
Security laws in Japan, allowing prolonged detention without charge, also caused apprehension.
Even at that young age, I remember hearing my uncles in Zimbabwe – men who often struggled just to get to work some days – complain about the logistical nightmares of the tournament.
Their gripes were almost laughable given their own day-to-day hardships, yet they, like millions around the world, were swept up in the World Cup fever.
Despite these issues, attendance reached a record 2.7 million and football participation in Asia surged in the long term, making the “curse” appear more hype than harm.
Germany in 2006 faced a different challenge: the resurgence of far-right violence threatened the safety of black and Asian fans, yet the country delivered a smoothly run tournament attended by 3.3 million, generating nearly 7 billion euros ($8.2 billion) in economic benefits.
Even amid these incidents, the perception of a curse was contained by successful execution and post-event gains.
South Africa’s 2010 World Cup exemplified the modern “curse” narrative in full.
The event was unforgettable for the constant drone of vuvuzelas, which became both a symbol of fan passion and a source of global mockery.
Yet beneath the cacophony, serious issues simmered.
Multi-million-dollar stadiums were constructed, only to be underutilized or abandoned after the tournament, leaving municipalities to shoulder long-term maintenance costs.
Allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption in tenders surfaced, with contracts awarded under opaque processes and expenses ballooning far beyond initial budgets.
Infrastructure projects displaced tens of thousands of residents and nearby townships still lacked electricity, clean water and basic services.
Economically, the tournament created short-term jobs, but a $2 billion debt and underused stadiums left a lingering financial burden.
The 2010 World Cup exposed structural inequalities while putting South Africa in the international spotlight – sometimes for the wrong reasons – but it also elevated Africa’s profile in global football.
Brazil 2014 became the embodiment of the curse, with massive protests against $11 billion in spending while public services deteriorated, contributing to political instability that eventually led to President Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment.
Russia 2018 offered a different form of controversy: the annexation of Crimea, ongoing geopolitical tensions and migrant worker abuses created headlines, yet logistical execution remained flawless, with 3 million fans attending and $26 billion in infrastructure legacy achieved.
Qatar 2022 brought the narrative to its apex: $300 billion spent on air-conditioned stadiums, more than 6,500 migrant deaths during construction, alcohol restrictions and a shifted calendar disrupting leagues worldwide.
Yet commercially, the tournament generated $17 billion for FIFA and drew 1.4 million visitors.
FIFA’s current bidding model reveals the systemic roots of these so-called curses.
Wealthy nations, often with authoritarian governments, secure hosting rights despite human rights risks, while ethical and democratic bidders are routinely sidelined.
Amnesty International’s 2023 report found that 80% of recent hosts were classified as “high risk” on human rights metrics before their tournaments.
The result is a predictable chain of controversies: economic burdens, political unrest, worker abuses and media scrutiny follow almost every host.
Brewing 2026 controversy
The 2026 North American World Cup, set across the United States, Canada and Mexico, is already drawing scrutiny despite being pitched as a “safe” and well-organized tournament.
The expansion to 48 teams and 104 matches promises global spectacle, but logistical and political challenges are stirring early controversy.
Trump-imposed visa delays have reached unprecedented levels, with wait times exceeding 700 days for fans and players from some nations, including Iran and Nigeria.
Even with the introduction of the “FIFA PASS” fast-track program in late 2025, denials remain possible, raising questions about accessibility and fairness.
Iran’s football federation even boycotted the tournament draw in protest over visa snubs, highlighting diplomatic tensions that threaten to spill onto the pitch.
Ticket pricing has emerged as another flashpoint. While group-stage tickets start at a seemingly reasonable $60, prices for high-demand matches have skyrocketed, with openers at MetLife Stadium reaching upwards of $2,000 and premium seats climbing past $6,000.
Resale fees of up to 15% have further inflamed fans, with supporter groups calling it a “monumental betrayal,” particularly when compared to Qatar 2022, where tickets averaged just $55.
Critics argue that such pricing risks alienating the very fanbase that makes the World Cup a global spectacle, reinforcing perceptions of elitism and exclusion.
Security and political disputes add another layer of tension. U.S. domestic politics have already clashed with FIFA plans: proposals to relocate matches from liberal-leaning cities like Seattle surfaced, citing ideological differences and security fears.
Rising incidents of racially motivated attacks across parts of the United States have intensified concerns for visiting fans, especially those from marginalized communities, raising questions about whether safety can be guaranteed for all spectators.
Even the economic projections are under scrutiny.
The tournament is expected to generate a $30.5 billion impact, but the influx of 1.24 million foreign visitors – only half of FIFA’s original estimate – may strain infrastructure, accommodation and transportation systems in host cities.
Critics also warn that the environmental footprint of the expanded tournament could rival previous editions, with cross-border travel between three countries magnifying carbon emissions despite FIFA’s promises of sustainability initiatives.
These controversies illustrate that even a well-resourced, democratic host trio is not immune to the pressures of hosting the modern World Cup.
Visa disputes, ticket pricing, security concerns and environmental challenges are all magnified in an era of hyper-connected fans, social media outrage and 24/7 global coverage.
2030 and 2034 under threat
Beyond 2026, the 2030 tournament spanning Spain, Portugal, Morocco and South American openers raises environmental and human rights challenges, while Saudi Arabia’s 2034 edition already draws criticism for alleged sportswashing, migrant exploitation and severe restrictions on free expression, alcohol and extreme climate conditions.
Curse or hype?
Yet, the idea of a curse is partially overstated.
Not every host implodes: the United States in 1994 turned initial apathy into a booming Major League Soccer, now valued at over $1 billion with 29 teams, while Germany’s 2006 tournament generated cultural influence alongside economic gain.
Social media and hyper-connected news cycles amplify grievances, turning predictable consequences of hosting into mythical curses.
Football itself – driven by passion, inequality and global politics – remains unchanged, producing both spectacular moments and inevitable scandals.
The World Cup hosting “curse” is less a supernatural phenomenon than the recurring fallout of FIFA’s profit-driven model.
Until reforms are implemented, including binding human rights standards, environmental accountability and sustainable infrastructure requirements, every host will face scrutiny.
The curse is not broken; it is football’s eternal tension between spectacle and consequence, where the beautiful game continues to unite millions even as it exposes the world’s divisions.
Rıza Kayaalp marked his long-awaited return to competition in emphatic fashion, capturing the Greco-Roman 130 kg. gold medal at the Zagreb Open and reminding the wrestling world why his name still carries weight at the very top of the sport.
The tournament in Croatia’s capital, part of United World Wrestling’s first Ranking Series event of 2026, was Kayaalp’s first official appearance in 610 days.
The 36-year-old Turkish heavyweight had not competed since June 2024, yet he looked untouched by the layoff, dominating every bout on his way to the title.
Kayaalp opened his campaign by overwhelming American Aden Ikaika Hammar Attao in the elimination round, winning 9-0 by technical superiority.
He followed with another lopsided victory in the quarterfinals, again posting a 9-0 technical fall against Georgia’s Rati Talikishvili.
The semifinals brought a sterner test, but Kayaalp remained in full control, shutting out Kazakhstan’s Olzhas Syrlybay 4-0 with disciplined defense and sharp work from par terre.
In Sunday’s final, he faced American Cohlton Michael Schultz and delivered a composed, authoritative performance, pulling away for a 7-1 victory to secure the gold medal.
Across four matches, Kayaalp conceded just one point.
The Zagreb Open also marked Kayaalp’s return following a doping case that sidelined him for much of 2024 and 2025. An out-of-competition test in May 2024 detected trimetazidine, a prohibited substance under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.
Kayaalp maintained the substance came from the prescribed medication Vastarel, which he used to treat severe tinnitus and related symptoms.
While an initial ruling imposed a four-year ban, the Court of Arbitration for Sport later reduced the sanction to 18 months, allowing him to resume competition on Jan. 1, 2026.
Kayaalp’s comeback adds another chapter to one of Greco-Roman wrestling’s most decorated careers.
He owns three Olympic medals, five world titles and a record 12 European championships, a mark he currently shares with Russian legend Aleksandr Karelin.
Gold at the 2026 European Wrestling Championships in April would make Kayaalp the most successful European champion in history.
Türkiye enjoyed a strong showing overall in Zagreb, finishing the event with three gold medals, one silver and one bronze.
Alongside Kayaalp, Yüksel Sarıçiçek and Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu claimed gold, while Nesrin Baş took silver and Ömer Halis Recep earned bronze.
Turkish short-track speed skater Furkan Akar says he feels prepared, confident, and hungry for a medal as he gets set to compete at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, aiming to turn experience into a podium finish.
Speaking from the Olympic Village in Milan, Akar described a smooth build-up to his second Games and said years of racing at the highest level have sharpened both his mindset and his belief.
“I gained experience with a sixth place and a bronze medal, then raced many more international events,” Akar said. “This is my second Olympics. I feel very ready and very motivated. I believe I can finish on the podium.”
Akar arrives in Italy with a growing resume. He finished sixth in the 1000 meters at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the best Olympic result ever for Türkiye in short track speed skating.
A year later, he claimed bronze at the 2023 European Championships in Gdansk, delivering Türkiye’s first European medal in the discipline.
Those milestones, he said, helped shape his confidence heading into Milan.
The atmosphere has already left a mark. Akar was one of the Turkish flag bearers at the opening ceremony, an experience he described as overwhelming and unforgettable.
“Carrying the Turkish flag in front of 80,000 people was incredibly exciting,” he said. “The energy here is completely different from Beijing. It was intense, emotional, and special. We are still training twice a day, fitness and ice sessions, right up to the 16th. The excitement keeps building.”
On the ice, Akar knows where the biggest challenge lies. He pointed to Canadian skaters as the strongest contenders in the men’s 500 meters but made it clear he is not intimidated.
“I think the Canadians are strong in the 500,” he said. “Other than that, I trust myself. I will give more than my best and represent my country in the strongest way possible.”
The Olympic environment, he added, carries a unique weight.
“Racing against the best athletes in the world is a very different feeling,” Akar said. “I worked hard for this, sacrificed a lot, and now I am seeing the reward. I want to thank everyone who supported me, from the federation to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. I am getting so many messages from across Türkiye, and that support means everything.”
Türkiye will be represented by two skaters in short track at Milano-Cortina for the first time. Denis Örs will join Akar in competition, with Örs also saying he feels strong and focused ahead of the races.
Akar and Örs are scheduled to compete in the men’s 500-meter heats on Monday, Feb. 16, at 1:17 p.m. local time. The event is known for its explosive pace, tight margins, and unpredictability, often producing dramatic finishes.
Cristiano Ronaldo still waits for his first major trophy in Saudi Arabia, and Al-Nassr hope their longest-running drought ends with his return to the pitch this week in continental competition.
The Riyadh club faces Arkadag of Turkmenistan on Wednesday in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Two round of 16, a two-match tie that offers Al-Nassr a clear path toward silverware.
The return leg will be played in Saudi Arabia next week, with a quarterfinal place at stake.
Ronaldo, now 41, has missed Al-Nassr’s last two Saudi Pro League matches amid reports of frustration over the club’s transfer strategy and funding structure.
Those concerns surfaced after rivals Al-Hilal signed Karim Benzema during the January window, reigniting debate over how Saudi football’s biggest clubs are backed despite all four being majority owned by the Public Investment Fund.
The Saudi Pro League moved quickly to address the issue, stressing that clubs operate independently within a shared framework.
In a statement, the league said Ronaldo has played an important role in Al-Nassr’s growth but emphasized that no player holds influence beyond their own club.
Transfer funding, the league added, comes from a centralized acquisition pool and individual club resources, not personal preference.
Despite the noise, Al-Nassr have shown resilience without their marquee name.
They beat defending league champions Al-Ittihad 2-0 on Friday, their second straight win without Ronaldo, easing immediate pressure ahead of the Arkadag trip.
Al-Nassr’s continental campaign unfolds as Saudi clubs continue to dominate the top-tier AFC Champions League Elite.
Al-Hilal sit comfortably atop the West Zone with six wins from six matches, allowing coach Simone Inzaghi room to rotate his squad.
Al-Ahli have also secured progression after claiming their first continental title earlier this year.
Al-Ittihad remain the only Saudi side yet to confirm a place in the knockout stage.
Sixth in the standings with two matches left, they can secure advancement by defeating Al-Gharafa of Qatar on Tuesday, even after losing Benzema to Al-Hilal.
Elsewhere in Asia, Vissel Kobe are the only East Zone team already through, while Japan could send three clubs into the round of 16 if Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Machida Zelvia deliver wins this week.
Chinese teams face mounting pressure, with Shanghai Port rooted to the bottom and Chengdu Rongcheng and Shanghai Shenhua clinging to qualification hopes.
For Al-Nassr, however, the focus is narrower and more urgent. Ronaldo has elevated the club’s profile since arriving in January 2023, but a major trophy remains missing from his Saudi chapter.
Turkish center Alperen Şengün of the Houston Rockets on Sunday was named an NBA All-Star for the second time in his career.
“Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Team World for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game (Sunday, 2/15 on NBC & Peacock),” the NBA said in a statement on Sunday.
Canadian star Gilgeous-Alexander has been sidelined by an abdominal strain but was voted a starter in taking his fourth All-Star selection in a row.
The 75th NBA All-Star Game will be played next Sunday at Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Şengün was named an All-Star for the first time last year. In his fifth NBA campaign, Şengün is averaging 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists over 44 games.
Şengün has helped the Rockets to a 32-19 record, sharing fourth place in the Western Conference.
In a revamped All-Star format, the World squad will face two teams of American players, USA Stars and USA Stripes, in a round-robin mini-tournament with three 12-minute games deciding which two sides advance to the 12-minute final.
England survived a major scare to beat Nepal in its T20 World Cup Group C opener in Mumbai on Sunday, despite Lokesh Bam’s blistering 39 not out off 20 balls.
Sam Curran held his nerve at the iconic Wankhede Stadium and defended just 10 off the last six balls as Nepal was restricted to 180-6 in 20 overs, replying to England’s 184-7 (20 overs).
Bam hit two sixes and four fours to raise the possibility of an improbable and stunning upset, but Curran bowled an exceptional final over to get England across the finish line.
Earlier, England had won the toss and opted to bat. Jacob Bethell hit 55 off 35 balls, including four sixes. Skipper Harry Brook added 53 off 32 balls with three sixes.
Will Jacks provided the finishing touch with 39 not out off 18 balls, hitting four sixes, and took England to a more defendable target from a precarious 137-5 in 15.3 overs.
In the morning game at Chennai, Tim Seifert’s 65 off 42 balls helped New Zealand get off to a winning start in the tournament and beat Afghanistan by five wickets in Group D.
It is expected to be the toughest group that also includes 2024 finalists South Africa.
New Zealand cruised to 183-5 – its highest ever chase at the T20 World Cup – with two overs to spare. Afghanistan scored 182-6 after winning the toss.
Curran took 1-27 in four overs, while left-arm spinner Liam Dawson picked up 2-21. For Nepal, skipper Rohit Paudel hit 39 off 34 balls, and Dipendra Singh top-scored with 44 off 29 balls.
Group C also includes West Indies, Italy and Scotland. Two-time champions West Indies beat Scotland by 35 runs Saturday.
England were 57-3 after 6.1 overs, when Bethell and Brook came together. They added 71 off 45 balls for the fourth wicket.
Bethell scored 50 off 28 balls, while Brook hit 50 off 31. Bethell fell in the 14th over and England slipped further before Jacks came to the rescue.
Jacks was named player of the match for his all-round showing. He helped England to reach a par score, and then picked up 1-17 in two overs.
He dismissed opener Kushal Bhurtel, who hit 29 off 17 balls and provided Nepal with a quick start as England searched for a breakthrough.
Dawson picked up two wickets as slower deliveries hit Nepal batters. Paudel and Singh added 82 off 54 balls for the third wicket, setting up a base for the finish.
Adil Rasheed proved expensive – 0-42 in three overs – but Curran dismissed Singh in the 15th over, in what was a crucial moment for the game. Bam’s heroics fell short in the end.
Gulbadin Naib, batting at No. 3 for the first time in T20s since the 2024 World Cup when Afghanistan knocked out the Black Caps from the race to the semis with an 84-run win at Guyana, smashed 63 off 35 balls.
But opening batter Seifert (65) raised his maiden T20 World Cup half-century to overcome Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s twin strike that had rattled New Zealand to 2-14 inside the first two overs.
Mujeeb clean bowled Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra off successive balls before Glenn Phillips (42) dealt with the hat-trick ball and then put the chase back on track by putting on an aggressive 74-run partnership with Seifert.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan (1-36) also couldn’t stem the flow of runs as New Zealand continued to accelerate in the middle overs against the experienced leg-spinner.
Rashid broke the stand in the 10th over when Phillips dragged it back onto his stumps.
Seifert completed his fifty in style by smacking off-spinner Mohammad Nabi for two successive sixes and followed it with a boundary before he was caught at deep square leg.
Mark Chapman (28 off 17 balls) and Daryl Mitchell (25 not out) then accelerated to get Black Caps home in the team’s first game of the tournament.
Earlier, Naib struck four sixes and three boundaries and laid a platform for Afghanistan’s strong finish with a 79-run partnership with Sediqullah Atal (29).
Naib took his time, scoring 14 off 16 balls but needed only another 13 deliveries to raise his half-century as New Zealand struggled with their fifth bowler.
Express bowler Lockie Ferguson (2-40) had struck twice when he was introduced in the last over of the power play and removed both openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (27) and Ibrahim Zadran (10).
World champion Breezy Johnson won the women’s downhill at the Milano Cortina Olympics on Sunday in a race overshadowed by U.S. teammate Lindsey Vonn’s heavy crash that halted the event and sent her to the hospital.
Vonn lost control over the opening traverse after cutting the line too tight and was spun around in the air.
She was heard screaming out after the crash as she was surrounded by medical personnel before she was strapped to a gurney and flown away by a helicopter, possibly ending the skier’s storied career.
Her condition was not immediately known, with the U.S. Ski Team saying simply she would be evaluated.
Johnson, Vonn’s teammate, with her win, became only the second American woman to clinch the Olympic downhill title after Vonn did it 16 years ago. The 30-year-old Johnson held off Emma Aicher of Germany and Italy’s Sofia Goggia on a bittersweet day for Team USA.
Vonn had family in the stands, including her father, Alan Kildow, who stared down at the ground while his daughter was being treated after just 13 seconds on the course.
Others in the crowd, including rapper Snoop Dogg, watched quietly as the star skier was finally taken off the course she knows so well and holds a record 12 World Cup wins.
Vonn’s crash was “tragic, but it’s ski racing,” said Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation.
“I can only say thank you for what she has done for our sport,” he said, “because this race has been the talk of the games and it’s put our sport in the best possible light.”
All eyes had been on Vonn, the feel-good story heading into the Olympics. She had returned to elite ski racing last season after nearly six years, a remarkable decision given her age, but she also had a partial titanium knee replacement in her right knee, too. Many wondered how she would fare as she sought a gold medal to join the one she won in the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
The four-time overall World Cup champion stunned everyone by being a contender almost immediately. She came to the Olympics as the leader in the World Cup downhill standings and was a gold-medal favorite before her crash in Switzerland nine days ago, when she suffered her latest knee injury. In addition to a ruptured ACL, she also had a bone bruise and meniscus damage.
Still, no one counted her out even then. In truth, she has skied through injuries for three decades at the top of the sport. In 2006, ahead of the Turin Olympics, Vonn took a bad fall during downhill training and went to the hospital. She competed less than 48 hours later, racing in all four events she’d planned, with a top result of seventh in the super-G.
“It’s definitely weird,” she said then, “going from the hospital bed to the start gate.”
Cortina has always had many treasured memories for Vonn beyond the record wins. She is called the queen of Cortina, and the Olympia delle Tofana is a course that had always suited Vonn.
She tested out the knee twice in downhill training runs over the past three days before the awful crash on Sunday in clear, sunny conditions.
“This would be the best comeback I’ve done so far,” Vonn said before the race. “Definitely the most dramatic.”
After the crash, the celebration for the medalists was held and fellow skiers thought about Vonn’s legacy.
“She has been my idol since I started watching ski racing,” said Kajsa Vickhoff Lie of Norway. “We still have a World Cup to do after Olympics … I wouldn’t be surprised if she suddenly shows up on the start gate, but the crash didn’t look good.”
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