The costs and challenges facing the 2026 World Cup

1 month ago 50

The World Cup officially kicked off this week - but alongside the football, there are questions around heat, cost, the environmental impact and travel restrictions.

The BBC Analysis Editor Ros Atkins takes a look at the challenges facing this year's tournament.

2 hours ago

NASA astronaut commander Randy Bresnik, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut pilot Luca Parmitano, NASA astronaut mission specialist Frank Rubio, and NASA astronaut mission specialist Andre Douglas speak during a press conference announcing the crew for the Artemis III mission at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, on June 9, 2026.

Nasa reveals crew for Artemis III mission

The crew, who are all men, are scheduled to blast off in 2027 to test systems ahead of a planned Moon landing.

World

Several microphones point at Donald Trump in Air Force One.

Has Trump lost control of the Iran war?

For the first time since the start of a precarious ceasefire two months ago, Israel and Iran have traded missile strikes.

World

A composite image showing Donald Trump and a TV interviewer next to the BBC Verify logo.

Trump denies promising 'no new wars' – but he campaigned on that

President Trump denies having promised 'no new wars'. BBC Verify has found multiple examples of him saying this during the 2024 US election campaign.

World

Players cheer as a bus carrying the Iranian football team arrives

Iran's World Cup football team arrives in Mexico amid US visa row

The players and staff will have to fly in and out of the US for each of their games in the group stage.

World

A group of men getting out of a plane with bright green suitcases.

Watch: World Cup teams start arriving in North America

Some wore matching suits and others carried identical green bags as they landed, just days before the tournament kicks off.

World

Split screen. Both sides show drug-smuggling tunnel.

Video shows elaborate drug-smuggling tunnel between US and Mexico

Four people have been arrested and charged with trafficking more than $45 million in cocaine, according to federal officials.

World

Split screen. Left, Ana Rosa Romero is pictured. Right, a high-rise building is seen.

Cuba’s blackouts leave high-rise residents with constant uncertainty

Will Grant spoke to a 70-year-old widow who says the inability to use her building's elevator during a power outage trapped her and her husband when he needed medical care.

World

On the left, a man in a dark green shirt. On the right, a man in white shirt plays soccer.

Pitches, PlayStations and protein ice cream - A look inside Brazil's World Cup base camp

BBC's Brandon Livesay toured the Columbia Park Training Facility in Morris Township, New Jersey that will host the team in the coming weeks.

World

Split screen. Left, three people standing on a rally in support of Castro. Right, Will Grant is pictured.

‘Long live Raúl!’ - Castro’s supporters in Cuba rally in his defence

BBC's Will Grant reports from a pro-government demonstration held after the US indictment of the former president.

World

Left, a Cuban man speaks to camera. Right, a Cuban woman wags her finger.

How Cuban-Americans feel about Raúl Castro's indictment

The DOJ charged the former leader of Cuba with murder and other crimes for his alleged role in the downing of two civilian aircraft in 1996.

World

On the left, a man stands in a street wearing a black shirt. On the right, an old man wears sunglasses and military greens.

Watch: Why is the US going after Cuba's Raúl Castro 30 years on?

BBC correspondent Will Grant reports from Havana, hours after the US charged former Cuban leader with conspiracy to kill US nationals and other crimes.

World

An old image of Bill Clinton standing at a podium at the White House.

Watch 1996 reports of the fatal plane attack at the heart of Castro's indictment

The US government has charged the former Cuban president with conspiracy to kill US nationals and other crimes over the downing of the two planes.

World

A composite image of Putin and Trump stood next to Xi

Watch: Did Trump and Putin get the same treatment in China?

Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russia's Vladimir Putin with a near-identical ceremony to Trump's last week.

World

President of Russia Vladimir Putin (R) and President of China Xi Jinping (L) attending the Victory Day military parade

Are Putin and Xi best friends? BBC breaks down their relationship

Laura Bicker and Steven Rosenberg explain the relationship between the leaders as the pair meet in Beijing.

World

Split screen. Will Grant is on the left and Juan Orlando Hernández is on the right.

Watch key moments from BBC's interview with pardoned Honduran ex-president

Juan Orlando Hernández was controversially pardoned by Trump in December while serving a 45-year prison sentence in the US for drug trafficking.

World

Left, a woman smiles at the camera. Right, the Greek entry dances.

Watch: Meet the Americans who love Eurovision

US fans of the Eurovision Song Contest gathered in Washington DC to cheer on their favourite European acts.

World

A split image shows a man in a blue suit standing in front of Air Force One on the left and President Trump is on the right.

BBC asks Trump if China will help open the Strait of Hormuz

The BBC's Tom Bateman asked President Trump about China's willingness to pressure Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

World

Split screen image - Laura Bicker (l) and Presidents Xi and Trump (r)

Watch: What did we learn from Trump's visit to China?

President Trump has concluded a two-day visit to Beijing at a high-stakes summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

World

Two people in life jackets are hoisted to safety in the waters.

Watch: US Air Force rescues 11 people after plane crashes off Florida coast

The passengers spent hours on a floating life raft after their 20-minute flight between two islands went down.

World

US President Donald Trump (L) and China's President Xi Jinping stand for their countries' national anthems during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026.

Watch: What happened on day one of Trump's China visit?

China welcomed US President Donald Trump with cheering children and a troop parade on Thursday, before a nearly two-hour long meeting with Xi-Jinping.

World

Read Entire Article