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World Cup concerns are exaggerated, says FIFA vice-president

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CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani (L) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino look on during the trophy ceremony after Mexico beat the United States 2-1 to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025 on July 0, 2025 in Houston, Texas. [Omar Vega/Getty Images/AFP]

Widespread political and security concerns surrounding the upcoming World Cup are nothing new and will be forgotten once the first ball is kicked, FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani said Wednesday.

This summer's soccer tournament is being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, and the buildup has been complicated by the war in the Middle East, President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown and gang violence in Mexico, among other factors.

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