The World Cup kicks off amid security alarms, geopolitical tensions and a heat emergency

A record edition, for the 48 national teams and the three host countries, amidst fear and controversy: the eyes of the world are focused on the 23rd edition of thefootball world cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico, also due to a geopolitical corollary which, between ongoing wars and the presence of Iran, has caused thesecurity alarm.

Donald Trump wants to use the event to relaunch the image of the USA as a beacon of the West but has reduced the risks to a minimum: no visas for the fans and the members of the technical staff themselves who could represent a threat. He paid the price too Omar Artan, who was supposed to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup but was blocked in Miami and rejected by the USA, probably due to the homonymy with a leader of the Islamist Shabaab militias.

Security and organizational system

The arrival of seven million fans in the States has imposed a police apparatus as if every match were a Super Bowl and coordination was entrusted to Andrew Giulianison of the former mayor-sheriff of New York. Almost 800 million dollars have been allocated to guarantee the safetyincluding anti-drone defenses.

Tournament calendar and formula

The football played starts today with Mexico-South Africa at 9pm Italian time and in total they will be played 104 gamesincluding the final on Sunday 19 July at New York New Jersey Stadium. The group stage foresees that the top two teams from each of the 12 groups will qualify for the direct elimination stage, plus eight of the best third-placed teams will compete in the round of 32. It is played in 16 stadiums, from the high-tech facilities of American football to the more sober Canadian fields and the renovated ones in Mexico where the myth of the Aztec will be revived for a third of the World Cup, at 2,220 meters above sea level.

Favorites and protagonists

L’Argentina reigning champion is rightfully among the favorite clubs but it should be remembered that in the last five World Cups as many different national teams have triumphed: Italy (2006), Spain (2010), Germany (2014), France (2018) and Argentina (2022). In the third edition in a row without Italy, the team will bring a bit of blue Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazilamong the most accredited contenders for the title with France, Spain and England. Haaland’s Norway and CR7’s Portugal are the possible surprises, Montella’s Turkey e Cannavaro’s Uzbekistan the other teams to follow for the Italians.

Iran case and geopolitical tensions

The biggest problem to manage concerns the presence ofIrannational team of a country currently at war with the USA: the Melli team had to move the training camp from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, near the US border, also because several staff members did not obtain visas and the players and coaches themselves will be able to enter the United States for the matches amid very strict security measures. There is even the risk of an explosive clash between Iran and the USA in the direct elimination phase, they could challenge each other in Dallas in the round of 16.

Heat emergency and climatic conditions

The other emergency of this North American World Cup risks being the heat with a quarter of matches likely to be played in potentially dangerous heat conditions for players and fans, as warned by a report by World Weather Attribution (WWA) which studies extreme weather events. Cities like Miami, Kansas City or Philadelphia (and the many afternoon races) are among the most exposed to high temperatures and humidity between June and July. FIFA has provided breaks for hydration and other protective measures.