The World Cup’s Unwelcome Guest: America’s Crumbling Infrastructure

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner, and visitors from around the globe will soon be greeted by the uninviting sight of America’s woefully inadequate infrastructure. Social media is already filled with images of Italian soccer stars trading in their luxurious Amalfi Coast getaways for a grueling walk along I-95.

The U.S. campaigned to host the World Cup, promising FIFA a seamless experience for international fans. However, as the big day approaches, it’s clear that our infrastructure is unprepared for the influx of visitors. With an expected 5 million fans descending upon American cities, the pressure on transportation systems will be immense. Instead of investing in modern transit options, we’re relying on outdated solutions like yellow school buses and sky-high train ticket prices.

Marsha Anderson Bomar, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, has been warning about America’s infrastructure woes for years. “We’re not investing enough in infrastructure,” she said bluntly. “We’re playing catch-up to get back to what’s called the state of good repair.” This indictment of our priorities will be starkly evident as foreign visitors trade their high-speed rail systems for America’s laughable public transportation options.

Previous World Cup host cities have set a higher standard. In Qatar in 2022, all eight stadiums were connected by a brand-new metro system. In Russia in 2018, ticketholders rode trains between host cities for free. Even South Africa in 2010 offered match-day ticket holders free rides on the Metrorail. Meanwhile, America’s World Cup organizers are scrambling to cope with modern transportation demands.

NJ Transit initially announced round-trip rail tickets on match days would cost a staggering $150 – a markup of over 1,000% over standard fares. After public backlash, the price was eventually dropped to $98, but it remains an affront to common decency. The irony is that even this relatively modest fee will be unaffordable for many fans.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been vocal about the exorbitant costs of attending American sports events, noting that a college game can cost upwards of $300. This highlights the chasm between America’s sporting aspirations and its infrastructure reality. “You cannot go to watch in the US, a college game…for less than $300,” Infantino pointed out.

Our cities are woefully unprepared for the influx of visitors. The lack of sidewalks, combined with chaotic American traffic patterns, will make walking to matches nearly impossible. A recent experiment by The Guardian found that attempting to walk from Manhattan to MetLife Stadium would take over four hours – and even then, you’d likely get blocked by pedestrian traffic.

The situation is dire, but it’s also an opportunity for us to confront the consequences of decades of neglecting our infrastructure. As Anderson Bomar warned, “I think it’s going to be challenging…I really do.” What will it take for America to finally invest in a modern transportation system? Will we continue to prioritize short-term fixes over long-term solutions, or will the World Cup serve as a wake-up call to truly plan livable cities?

The answer lies not just with our politicians or engineers, but also with us – the American people. We must demand better from our leaders and infrastructure systems. As we welcome the world’s soccer fans to our shores, let’s use this moment to reflect on what we value most as a nation: convenience, efficiency, or community? The choice is ours.