World Cup Fever Grips Fans Globally Despite Controversy Over Visa Denials

—Soccer fans around the world gathered in public squares, bars, and stadiums to follow the opening days of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with South Korean crowds filling central Seoul's Gwanghwamun plaza to cheer their team. The tournament's launch has been complicated by controversy over the US denying entry visas to referees and players from Muslim-majority nations, most notably the barring of Somalia's top referee from his World Cup assignment. Public health officials in Europe reassured fans that the Ebola outbreak in Congo does not pose a significant tournament risk. Global ticket demand has hit records, though some venues saw unexpectedly empty seats in early group-stage matches.