World Cup excitement fills Los Angeles as costs and visa issues linger

Los Angeles is hosting World Cup soccer again for the first time in 32 years, and fans across the city are treating the tournament as a local festival. Al Jazeera reported that the excitement around Friday’s United States-Paraguay opener has been tempered by steep ticket costs and concerns tied to the Trump administration’s travel and immigration policies.

The Los Angeles area is staging eight matches, including the U.S. team’s first game, according to Al Jazeera. Flags from competing nations have appeared outside bars, shops and other businesses around the city as fans follow games being played across the 2026 tournament.

Juan Cortes, a Mexican-American mechanic in Los Angeles, told Al Jazeera he put U.S. and Mexican flags outside his shop to mark the tournament’s return to Southern California. Although the stadium is only a few kilometres away, he said he would not attend any matches because prices were out of reach.

Cortes said fans with deep ties to the sport should have more chances to see the tournament in person. He told Al Jazeera he was still thrilled to be close to the event and had seen Paraguay’s team bus pass his shop before the opener.

Ticket prices keep some fans outside

Al Jazeera reported that resale tickets for the U.S. opener were still available less than 12 hours before kickoff. Some fans said the problem was not lack of interest but cost.

Francisco Aguilar, a fan from Texas visiting Los Angeles, told Al Jazeera he could not get tickets for any games and blamed organizers for putting revenue ahead of access. He described the pricing as a class issue.

Aguilar said he remained excited about the tournament, including the chance to watch Spain’s Lamine Yamal in his first World Cup, according to Al Jazeera. He also told the outlet he expected Mexico to make a strong run on home soil and predicted a final between Argentina and France, a repeat of the 2022 matchup.

Venice Beach bars were packed late Thursday as South Korea played the Czech Republic in Mexico, Al Jazeera reported. Earlier that day, after Mexico beat South Africa in the opening game in Mexico City, fans in Mexico shirts were seen around Los Angeles.

Immigration concerns shadow the event

Fans and activists told Al Jazeera that U.S. visa and travel restrictions have also affected the mood around the tournament. The outlet reported that U.S. authorities denied entry to Somali referee Omar Artan, who had been due to officiate matches.

Al Jazeera also reported that Iraqi player Aymen Hussein was detained for nearly seven hours after arriving in Chicago before being allowed into the United States. The outlet said fans from several countries have reported visa denials.

In March, President Donald Trump said it would not be “appropriate” for Iran’s team to take part in the World Cup and suggested they should stay away for their safety, according to Al Jazeera. Iran later based its team in Mexico, even though its group-stage matches are in the United States, and plans to cross the border only for games, the outlet reported.

Immigration enforcement has become another concern for some advocates. Al Jazeera reported that the Trump administration has not ruled out deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to matches.

Lisa Walker of the Venice Resistance held a sign reading “ICE out” at a small protest and told Al Jazeera people were worried about raids during the tournament. She also criticized the administration’s travel bans, saying the World Cup’s international nature made such restrictions wrong.

Jan Wilkinson, an England fan from London, told Al Jazeera he had no trouble entering the United States but said turning away people such as Artan was “not a good look.” He also praised the atmosphere in Los Angeles and said England fans still believed their team could end its long wait for a major title.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.