World Cup Carries Off-Field Controversies as Almiron Red Card and Iran's Tijuana Base Draw Attention

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has accumulated a dense set of off-field controversies alongside its on-field action.

The Aramco Sponsorship Controversy

Activists have announced plans to demonstrate at World Cup venues over FIFA's sponsorship arrangement with Saudi Aramco, the state-owned Saudi oil company. Protest organizers specifically cite Saudi Arabia's human rights record and what they describe as FIFA using sport to rehabilitate the kingdom's international image — a practice critics call "sportswashing."

FIFA has not issued a public statement in response to the planned demonstrations.

Security and Fraud Concerns

The FBI warned that fraudulent FIFA and World Cup websites are actively harvesting personal data and selling counterfeit tickets. Fans who purchased tickets through unofficial channels have no clear recourse under FIFA's current consumer-protection framework.

A Kansas City highway shooting near a World Cup venue remains under investigation. No arrest has been announced.

Iran's World Cup Presence

Iran's national team is competing in the tournament, based in Tijuana, Mexico. AP News reported that Iranian fans have gathered there in visible numbers to support the squad, turning the team's hotel into a hub of national pride.

On the Field

Paraguay's Miguel Almiron became the first player red-carded at this World Cup for covering his mouth, according to AP News. The incident illustrates how FIFA's on-field enforcement of expression rules runs in direct tension with the off-field protests over its own commercial partnerships.

What Comes Next

Whether the protests produce any formal response from FIFA, any stadium incident that triggers law enforcement action, or any shift in the tournament's commercial structure remains to be seen. None of those outcomes have occurred yet.