With more than 70% of the 2026 World Cup taking place on American soil, this summer’s Club World Cup served as a high-stakes dress rehearsal. The tournament offered a glimpse of what the U.S. is doing right—and what it urgently needs to address—before soccer’s biggest event arrives next summer.

A trial run with mixed results

In many ways, the expanded 32-team Club World Cup filled the role once held by the now-defunct Confederations Cup: a full-scale test of World Cup logistics. Everything from stadium operations to media facilities, fan services, training complexes, and transportation infrastructure came under the microscope. And while the tournament proved that the U.S. can handle the magnitude of a global event, it also exposed major cracks—some predictable, others more serious than expected.

Player unions like FIFPRO and high-profile managers such as Jürgen Klopp have long voiced concerns over the Club World Cup’s expansion, citing player fatigue and a bloated calendar. Still, FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s tournament is likely here to stay. But the U.S. can’t afford to gloss over the problems it revealed. Some require urgent fixes. Others may not be solvable at all.

The weather problem

Of all the issues that surfaced, none loomed larger than the weather—just as it did during the 2024 Copa América. Players, coaches, and journalists all had something to say about the brutal summer heat and volatile conditions, particularly on the East Coast.

One telling example: six matches were temporarily suspended due to lightning storms. A round-of-16 clash between Benfica and Chelsea was delayed by two hours. The reality is, this is simply how American summers are—especially in the East and Midwest, where thunderstorms, tornadoes, and sweltering humidity are common. The Atlantic hurricane season overlaps almost perfectly with the World Cup window.

Of the 11 U.S. venues for 2026, only four are domed stadiums—Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium), Dallas (AT&T Stadium), Houston (NRG Stadium), and Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)—meaning the remaining seven are exposed to the elements. That includes major cities like Miami, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, all of which are prone to sudden storms and extreme heat. Match scheduling, safety protocols, and even training session planning will need to account for temperatures that could top 95°F (35°C), particularly in Texas, Florida, and Georgia.

While the West Coast (Santa Clara, Seattle) should see milder conditions, there’s no getting around the fact that staging a summer World Cup in the U.S. involves weather-related risks. But holding it in winter brings its own challenges, as seen in frigid editions like Argentina 1978 and South Africa 2010.

Looking ahead, the climate challenge isn’t going away. Temperatures in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco—hosts of the 2030 World Cup—often exceed 105°F (40°C) in the summer. Saudi Arabia’s 2034 edition is expected to follow Qatar’s 2022 model and take place in November and December, to avoid desert temperatures that can top 120°F (49°C).

Immigration and security concerns

The Club World Cup kicked off under a cloud—literally and politically. In early June, as Atlético Madrid faced PSG at the Rose Bowl, protests erupted just a few miles away in downtown Los Angeles. Latino advocacy groups and their allies clashed with the National Guard over ICE deportation raids, with tear gas and rubber bullets fired into crowds.

The incident echoed similar scenes from past sporting events—Brazil’s 2013 Confederations Cup and Mexico’s 1968 Olympics among them. But it also underscored a uniquely American problem: the volatile intersection of immigration policy, politics, and major events.

By summer 2026, the U.S. political climate may be even more charged. The World Cup will land just five months before midterm elections. Donald Trump has already pledged a renewed crackdown on immigration if re-elected, including mass deportations and expanding travel bans. One of his early executive orders proposed banning citizens from 12 countries—including Iran, already qualified for 2026—and limiting visas from seven others, including Venezuela, another potential World Cup participant.

While players and team staff are exempt from these restrictions, it’s unclear whether fans from affected nations will be allowed to enter the U.S. A leaked report from The Washington Post revealed plans to expand the list to 36 countries, including World Cup regulars like Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Senegal, and Ivory Coast. The Trump administration’s hardline stance also threatens legal residents, asylum seekers, and even second-generation American citizens. A recent law—dubbed the “Big & Beautiful Bill” by critics—adds $250 in visa fees for tourists. That means any fan requiring a travel visa will now pay significantly more just to get in the door.

This has created an unwelcoming image that may discourage international fans from attending. A recent AS USA poll showed many potential visitors now see the U.S. as a hostile destination.

Turf wars

It may sound like a smaller issue, but to players and coaches, field conditions are anything but trivial. Several teams complained about poor pitch quality during the Club World Cup—especially in stadiums that typically host NFL games. Seattle, New York, Atlanta, and Charlotte were all called out for bumpy surfaces and awkward seams where temporary natural grass was laid over synthetic turf.

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique was blunt after a match in Seattle: “The ball bounces like a rabbit.” The patchwork fields—some with visible stitching and discolored sod—weren’t just unsightly; they also affected how the game was played.

Top managers like Marcelo Bielsa and Lionel Scaloni were among the most vocal critics of field conditions during the 2024 Copa América. One year later, the issue hasn’t gone away. Time is running out, and if the U.S. wants to pass its final exam in 2026, it can’t afford to fail on the fundamentals.

Conclusion: The pressure is on

The 2025 Club World Cup made one thing clear: hosting the World Cup is about more than just filling stadiums. The U.S. has the infrastructure, the fan base, and the commercial muscle—but the tournament also revealed serious challenges that must be addressed quickly. Climate, immigration, security, and basic pitch conditions are now part of the equation.

The countdown to 2026 is on. And the world is watching.

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