Sports
All-32: Each NFL team’s biggest remaining need after 2025 free agency
We’re only two weeks into the league new year and every NFL team has been deemed offseason champion, offseason chump or somewhere in between. But no one’s offseason to-do list is completely checked off in such little time.
So, what is your team still missing? Is it a need that can be filled in the 2025 NFL Draft in April or is there still a signing to be made? The Athletic’s NFL writers answer those questions, as they dish below on the remaining needs and wants for all 32 teams.
Arizona Cardinals
GM Monti Ossenfort is off to a solid start. The Cardinals made one of free agency’s biggest moves with the signing of Philadelphia pass rusher Josh Sweat, filling perhaps the team’s greatest need. Ossenfort also signed Cleveland’s Dalvin Tomlinson, a sturdy, dependable defensive tackle. Shoring up the offensive line — the Cardinals need help at guard — is the obvious next step. The Cardinals can address this in the draft. At No. 16, they should have options should they choose to go this direction. They also could use a productive veteran receiver to complement Marvin Harrison, Jr.. — Doug Haller
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons taped over their holes at edge rusher and in the secondary by signing outside linebacker Leonard Floyd and safety Jordan Fuller and re-signing last year’s starting cornerback Mike Hughes, but none of those moves are the final fixes at those positions. That leaves any of the spots as options when the Falcons are on the clock with the 15th pick of the first round. Given Atlanta’s historically bad pass rush, edge rusher should still probably be the betting favorite, though. — Josh Kendall
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens got a little clarity along their offensive line by re-signing left tackle Ronnie Stanley. They’ve added a backup quarterback (Cooper Rush) and a third quality wide receiver (DeAndre Hopkins). However, they’ve done nothing at cornerback beyond losing starter Brandon Stephens in free agency and releasing Arthur Maulet. Baltimore has only four corners on its roster. Marlon Humphrey and 2024 first-round pick Nate Wiggins are a good duo to start with, but the Ravens need at least two more starting-caliber cornerbacks. They can get one in the draft. It’s asking a lot to hit on two quality rookies ready to play immediately when you have other needs. — Jeff Zrebiec
Buffalo Bills
The Bills have starters in place almost throughout the entire roster. That is, except for their second cornerback position. Last season’s starter, Rasul Douglas, remains a free agent and they traded 2022 first-round pick Kaiir Elam. Their only move to replenish the position was to sign Dane Jackson, primarily a No. 3 cornerback. Top starter Christian Benford is one of the best players on the team, but he’s a free agent after 2025, further complicating the potential depth of the need. The Bills would likely want to get him under contract if they can to help the need. After striking out on Elam with their top pick and finding several later draft gems at the position, it doesn’t necessarily mean the Bills are a slam dunk to use their first-round pick on a cornerback this year. — Joe Buscaglia
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers made a flurry of moves to address a defense that was among the worst in NFL history last year. But even after signing ex-Raider Tre’Von Moehrig to a three-year, $51 million contract and re-signing backup/special teams regular Nick Scott, general manager Dan Morgan still has work to do in a safety room that is being overhauled. Moehrig said he is looking forward to helping the young players “coming from college or whoever else we bring.” Morgan is expected to target a safety in the draft, but he could still add another in the late stages of free agency. — Joseph Person
Chicago Bears
The Bears added five new starters up front this offseason: guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, center Drew Dalman, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo. Adding a draft pick or two will also improve the trenches. The depth at linebacker and safety now stands out. Linebacker T.J. Edwards and safety Kevin Byard are entering the final years of their contracts, while there is an affordable exit point in linebacker Tremaine Edmunds’ deal after 2025. Safety Jaquan Brisker has a history of concussions. Addressing both positions in the draft makes sense. — Adam Jahns
Cincinnati Bengals
Hard to pin down just one need. The Bengals didn’t fill many needs in free agency outside of the bank accounts of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. They need two starting guards, a backup swing tackle, any form of pass-rush juice on the defensive line, a linebacker to start next to Logan Wilson and probably a long-term replacement for safety Geno Stone. But they don’t need receivers! The Bengals will need to find starters in the third wave of free agency as well as nail the draft to make the rest of the pieces fit around Joe Burrow, Chase and Higgins. — Paul Dehner Jr.
Cleveland Browns
Past overspending and the disastrous commitment to Deshaun Watson made the Browns value-only shoppers in the first wave of free agency, and it’s hard to make the case the team has improved at all. Quarterback remains the biggest need, both for the present and future. Kenny Pickett was acquired in a trade ahead of the new league year and is the only healthy quarterback on the roster. The Browns are still in the market for a veteran starter and will certainly be drafting a quarterback next month. But whether that player comes with the No. 2 pick or at some point on the draft’s second day remains to be seen. The Browns continue to keep an eye on things with Kirk Cousins and Russell Wilson, but real hope lies only in drafting the right young passer. — Zac Jackson
Dallas Cowboys
There’s not an absolute No. 1, but running back is as close as it gets. They added some depth pieces in free agency with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, but they’re still lacking that unquestioned No. 1 back. Rico Dowdle had that role most of last year. He’s now in Carolina. The Cowboys, one of the NFL’s worst rushing teams last season, need an upgrade. The most likely path continues to be early in next month’s draft.
This is considered a quality running back draft class. Dallas should’ve drafted a back in one of the first four rounds either last year or the year before. It didn’t happen and now it’s a must. If Ashton Jeanty is still available at No. 12, it just makes too much sense. — Jon Machota
Denver Broncos
There might as well be a neon “Help Wanted!” sign hovering above Denver’s backfield. Javonte Williams joined the Cowboys in free agency, leaving the Broncos without a running back on the roster who has rushed for at least 500 yards in a season. There isn’t a huge bar to clear to outpace what Williams did last season — 3.7 yards per carry and 8.2 attempts per game — but the question is who will Denver target in a draft rich with running back talent. Omarion Hampton looms as a first-round option, but Denver should be able to get a difference-making rusher without using the 20th pick. — Nick Kosmider
Detroit Lions
What the Lions do at the edge spot opposite of Aidan Hutchinson remains a question. They released veteran Za’Darius Smith — whom they traded for ahead of the deadline after Hutchinson went down — earlier this month. They re-signed Marcus Davenport, the current projected starter, but he’s played just six total games the last two seasons. A team with Super Bowl aspirations should not count on Davenport to play a starter’s workload and stay healthy over the course of 17 games and the playoffs. The rest of the edge room consists of rotational pieces and depth. The Lions usually address needs in free agency so they don’t have to draft for need, but unless Detroit adds a starting-caliber edge before then, it should be a real priority next month. — Colton Pouncy
Green Bay Packers
The future of Green Bay’s best cornerback, Jaire Alexander, remains uncertain. My guess based on what I’ve heard is still that he doesn’t play for the Packers in 2025. Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell have signed elsewhere in free agency. The Packers brought in Nate Hobbs from the Raiders and still have Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine (Packer fans won’t be thrilled if that’s the top three), but their need for depth at the position is glaring. You could argue wide receiver is a more pressing need since they’ll be without Christian Watson for at least the first half of the season, but cornerback might be atop the priority list entering the NFL Draft in Green Bay next month. — Matt Schneidman
Houston Texans
Offensive line help remains a high priority for a team that surrendered the third-highest sack total in the NFL last season. C.J. Stroud is a quality young quarterback, but the Texans will never see him fully ascend to stardom if they do not invest in protecting him. Houston did sign ninth-year pro Cam Robinson to a one-year deal and added veterans Trent Brown and Laken Tomlinson, but they need a long-term solution and upgrades on the interior. The goal should be to emerge from the draft having used multiple early round picks on a left tackle and an interior lineman. — Mike Jones
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts desperately need to upgrade at tight end, and they’ll likely target one in the draft. Drew Ogletree and Will Mallory are currently atop the depth chart, but that likely won’t hold up for the 2025 season since neither has shown signs of being a No. 1 option. Jelani Woods was supposed to be Indianapolis’ long-term answer at tight end — using his 6-foot-7, 253-pound frame and speed to create constant mismatches — though the 2022 third-round pick has missed the last two seasons due to injury. Perhaps Penn State’s Tyler Warren or Michigan’s Colston Loveland could fill Indy’s years-long void at tight end. — James Boyd
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags still have plenty of needs, but there’s a glaring hole at receiver behind Brian Thomas. Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper, Tyler Lockett, Josh Reynolds and Elijah Moore are among the best available. It’s probably not a spot where they want to draft a wideout at No. 5, so they should find a lower-cost veteran beforehand. — Jeff Howe
Kansas City Chiefs
With the addition of left tackle Jaylon Moore in free agency, the Chiefs’ biggest priority should be to continue building their defensive line. One of the most underrated parts of the Chiefs loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX was how little effect their pass rush had against quarterback Jalen Hurts. Adding more youth and talent around pass rusher Chris Jones and defensive ends George Karlaftis and Charles Omenihu would be a shrewd decision for general manager Brett Veach. — Nate Taylor
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders took care of their biggest need, trading for Geno Smith, and then chipped away at some others in free agency. So we’re going with a four-way tie with linebacker, cornerback, running back and receiver. The Raiders lost both starting linebackers from last year and signed run-stopper Elandon Roberts from the Steelers, but saw the Patriots match an offer sheet for pass-coverage guy Christian Elliss. They also rolled the dice on former first-round pick Eric Stokes at corner and got a bargain in 11th-year change-the-pace running back Raheem Mostert. There is no depth at receiver after Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker, though the Raiders will likely sign one in these last ripples of free agency. — Vic Tafur
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers did a fine job methodically plugging holes through free agency. They made moves in every position group, and that has created depth. I still see two needs tied for the biggest remaining: running back and edge rusher. The Chargers have Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu and Bud Dupree. They need a fourth edge to round out that room and insure against two older players in Dupree and Mack. They have running back Najee Harris, who they signed in free agency. They need a second back with some big-play potential to create a viable one-two-punch in a remade room. — Daniel Popper
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams set the table for themselves in free agency to not enter the draft with any glaring needs. It started with keeping quarterback Matthew Stafford for at least one more year, then extending left tackle Alaric Jackson and receiver Tutu Atwell, signing nose tackle Poona Ford, receiver Davante Adams and center Coleman Shelton. Depth concerns were addressed at cornerback and inside linebacker with the signings of Ahkello Witherspoon and Nate Landman. They still need to add at the latter positions, and should be in the draft market for another young receiver, a right tackle to eventually take over for veteran Rob Havenstein, a quarterback to develop and a dynamic tight end. — Jourdan Rodrigue
Miami Dolphins
After losing Jevon Holland in free agency, you could make a compelling case for their biggest needs being at safety or defensive line — what’s the plan next to Zach Sieler? — but the Dolphins cannot enter the 2025 season with Liam Eichenberg penciled in as a starting guard. He’s OK as depth, but Miami must continue to upgrade its interior offensive line, even after signing James Daniels, who is plenty talented but coming off of an Achilles tear. The Dolphins’ running game efficiency nosedived last season, largely because of a substandard offensive line. I expect upgrading the line to be a top priority in the draft. — Jim Ayello
Minnesota Vikings
The difficulty in trying to answer this question reflects how successful a free-agent period the Vikings had. They added two interior offensive linemen (Ryan Kelly and Will Fries). They revamped the interior of their defensive line (Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave). They kept high-end cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. They enhanced their running back room (Jordan Mason). Minnesota still needs a backup quarterback. The cornerback room could use more depth. For now, though, the most glaring question mark is at left guard. The Vikings could opt for Blake Brandel or Walter Rouse, but they could also use the draft to fortify this spot. — Alec Lewis
New England Patriots
This one is rather easy. Despite having perhaps the worst group of wide receivers in the NFL, the Patriots’ biggest need is at left tackle. Their hopes of signing Ronnie Stanley in free agency evaporated when he re-upped with the Ravens, and the other free-agent options weren’t too appealing to them. So as the draft nears, the Patriots remain without a long-term blindside protector for Drake Maye. — Chad Graff
New Orleans Saints
Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo opened last season as the Saints’ starting cornerbacks. Both of them are long gone now. They brought back Isaac Yiadom via free agency after he spent last season in San Francisco. He’s a solid piece and the Saints will likely start Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry. But there’s a reason the Saints pursued Charvarius Ward so vigorously. The draft seems like the direction at this rate, unless the Saints pull off a trade. Taking a cornerback at No. 9 would be a likely stretch unless New Orleans made a bold move for Travis Hunter. — Larry Holder
New York Giants
Despite signing Jameis Winston to a two-year, $8 million deal, not much has changed for the Giants in their quarterback pursuits: They still need a reliable starter. Winston, who hasn’t played a full season since 2019, isn’t that. While he’ll inject personality to the locker room and in his on-field play, the Giants are still in the hunt for top remaining veteran Aaron Rodgers, per reports. Plus, they have the No. 3 pick in the draft and they have to hope for a new face of the franchise to leave with on that April weekend. — Charlotte Carroll
New York Jets
The Jets need more weapons for Justin Fields. Badly. Yes, they’re in good shape at running back. While Garrett Wilson is there at wide receiver, an argument could be made the Jets have one of the worst groups of targets at both wide receiver and tight end in the NFL — especially at TE, where they added Stone Smartt to a room with Jeremy Ruckert. Fields needs a reliable tight end for the offense the Jets are going to run — someone who can act as a safety valve in the middle of the field while also contributing as a blocker — which is why they’ve been heavily tied to Penn State’s Tyler Warren. At receiver, Allen Lazard is the current No. 2 — and he might still get cut. After him it’s just Tyler Johnson, Malachi Corley and Xavier Gipson. — Zack Rosenblatt
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles need more options at safety. After trading C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans for Kenyon Green, an offensive guard, the Eagles created a vacancy for the starting spot opposite Reed Blankenship. Sydney Brown is the presumptive frontrunner. The 2023 third-round pick showed promise while starting in six games during his rookie season, which ended with a Week 18 ACL tear. Brown’s recovery timeline necessitated Gardner-Johnson’s arrival. His departure signals the Eagles’ faith in Brown. But it’d behoove them to acquire another option, likely in the draft. Among the three other safeties under contract, Tristin McCollum is the only one who has ever started in a game. — Brooks Kubena
Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers general manager Omar Khan said at the combine that “ideally” he hoped to have his quarterback in place before the start of free agency. But now here we sit, two weeks after the NFL’s negotiating window opened, and the Steelers still don’t know who their starting quarterback will be in 2025. Four-time NFL MVP and soon-to-be 42-year-old QB Aaron Rodgers continues to hold the franchise hostage. It’s reached the point that people in Pittsburgh are throwing their support behind Mason Rudolph as a possible starter in 2025. Eventually, the glaring hole at defensive tackle will become the No. 1 priority in the draft. But until a QB is in place, it’s hard to think about anything else. — Mike DeFabo
The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted Aaron Rodgers for a visit last week, but continue to wait to see if the quarterback will join the team. (Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers lost three-fourths of their 2024 starting defensive line in free agency. An argument can be made that the team finally should find a bookend for Nick Bosa at defensive end. But the most glaring weakness is defensive tackle. As it stands now, Jordan Elliott and Kevin Givens are the top players there. The upcoming draft is deep at the position, and the 49ers should bring in both a quick, penetrating defensive tackle and big body who can occupy double teams and clog the opponent’s running game. – Matt Barrows
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle’s only addition to the offensive line in free agency was Josh Jones, who signed a one-year, $4 million contract to be a backup. The Seahawks are set at tackle with Charles Cross and Abe Lucas, but the interior of the offensive line isn’t very strong. General manager John Schneider has acknowledged that the front line is the team’s main deficiency, but he prefers to address it through the draft rather than throw big money at average players. Now he must hit on several players in the draft to fix the team’s most glaring weakness. — Michael-Shawn Dugar
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bringing back Lavonte David was significant, but the Bucs still have a need at inside linebacker. David played well last year, but he’s 35, so he might not play as well or be as healthy in the coming season. And even if he plays well again, a replacement is likely to be needed for 2026. Aside from David, the Bucs still are searching for another inside linebacker. The team remains hopeful about 2023 fifth-round pick SirVocea Dennis, but he has yet to start a game. Free-agent pickup Anthony Walker also could be a factor. The Bucs have a need at cornerback as well. Their primary need, however, is inside linebacker. — Dan Pompei
Tennessee Titans
The Titans did much to address their biggest weakness, offensive line — though the jury’s out on Dan Moore Jr. as a satisfactory answer at left tackle — and plugged a couple other holes on a roster full of them. That leaves receiver and edge as glaring areas of concern. Harold Landry has been cut. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has signed with the Dolphins. And those were problem spots with those guys. It would be very surprising if the Titans don’t address both positions in some way before the draft. Then, if Cam Ward at No. 1 is indeed the choice, pick No. 35 figures to be devoted to one of the two. This is a bad year to not have a third-round pick, which was traded to the Chiefs last year for L’Jarius Sneed. — Joe Rexrode
Washington Commanders
Splashy trades for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel addressed the offense’s primary needs. Moves on the defensive front have been more quantity over quality, particularly on the line. Enough to improve last season’s 30th ranked run defense or upgrade the pass rush? Maybe on the margins, but no DE with high-end potential exists. The remaining free-agent options are solid but trend older or risky. Trading for Trey Hendrickson might no longer be an option but it’s also a pricey one on multiple fronts if executed. The Commanders likely will draft help in the first two rounds. That means raising the group’s potential but what about Washington’s 2025 ceiling? — Ben Standig
(Top photos: Al Bello and Robin Alam / Getty Images)
Sports
Cowboys’ playoff hopes in jeopardy after loss to Lions and costly late-game mistakes
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Detroit Lions defeated the Dallas Cowboys 44-30 on “Thursday Night Football,” cementing themselves as the top challenger for the final seed in the NFC playoffs.
Dallas entered the game riding a three-game winning streak to climb back into the playoff hunt. But the loss drops the Cowboys to 6-6 and into the 10th seed, two and a half games behind the San Francisco 49ers for the final NFC playoff spot.
Detroit improved to 8-5, putting the Lions firmly back into the race just one game behind San Francisco.
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs against Dallas Cowboys cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. (34) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Thursday’s game was also the subject of criticism against referees on social media.
Two calls in particular were widely scrutinized: when Prescott was seemingly tackled in his own end zone in the first quarter, but referees did not call a safety, and in the fourth quarter when offensive pass interference was called on Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson during a crucial red-zone third down — even as many argued Lions defender Alex Anzalone committed the infraction.
DAK PRESCOTT, CEEDEE LAMB LEAD COWBOYS PAST CHIEFS IN THANKSGIVING THRILLER
Detroit Lions fans hold up signs during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field. (Lon Horwedel/Imagn Images)
Detroit’s running backs led the way in the red zone, as Jahmyr Gibbs scored three touchdowns and David Montgomery added another. Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw for 309 yards.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 376 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. His first interception ended Dallas’ opening possession of the second half and set up a Lions touchdown to extend the lead to 27-9. His second interception ended the Cowboys’ final drive as they attempted to rally late.
Prescott has now thrown eight interceptions this season. He was considered an MVP contender earlier in the year, but no player has ever won the award without reaching the postseason.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Dec 4, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) hands off to running back Javonte Williams (33) during the first half against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. (Lon Horwedel/Imagn Images)
Dallas now has just an estimated 8% chance of making the playoffs.
If the Cowboys fall short, it will mark their 30th consecutive season without a Super Bowl title.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Sports
California lawmakers flag concerns about World Cup visas, ban threats and ticket prices
WASHINGTON — With the World Cup just six months away and the tournament draw unfolding Friday, members of California’s congressional delegation are expressing concern about preparations for what will be the largest and most complex single-sport competition in history.
The tournament, which will feature 48 teams playing 104 games across the U.S., Mexico and Canada, offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the 11 U.S. host cities to both showcase themselves to the world and grab a slice of what FIFA estimates will be a $30.5-billion economic impact. But to take full advantage of that opportunity, organizers need government assistance on issues ranging from visas to security while also dealing with ticket prices far beyond the means of the average fan.
The tournament draw will take place Friday morning at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where the 42 countries that already qualified will be randomly assigned to one of 12 groups for the tournament’s opening round. That’s the last major hurdle for a World Cup that will open June 11 in Mexico City and end July 19 in East Rutherford, N.J.
After that comes the Herculean task of putting on the first World Cup in the U.S. in 32 years, one that will require bipartisan government cooperation on multiple levels. Get it right, and the upside is enormous. Get it wrong, and the damage to U.S. prestige will be significant.
The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed during a panel discussion at The Kennedy Center on Wednesday in Washington.
(Dan Mullan / Getty Images)
And so far, the politicians say, the Trump administration has proven to be as combative as it has been cooperative.
“There’s so many layers to the economic engine that is the World Cup. It’s going to be successful. I’m highly confident of that,” Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) said. “But to ensure its success — not just on an economic front, but on a logistical and security front — the best thing that we can all do is focus on the task at hand.
“Focus on federal government, state government and local government collaboration.”
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) also is optimistic but guardedly so, given the work still to be done.
“You’re talking about visas, you’re talking about infrastructure, you’re talking about transportation, you’re talking about national security,” said Kamlager-Dove, whose district abuts Inglewood and SoFi Stadium, site of eight World Cup games. “You’re actually also talking about morale and a brand. People don’t want to buy a brand that sucks, or that’s losing or that isn’t inclusive.
“We can’t afford to have that happen for the World Cup.”
According to a November study by the consulting firm Tourism Economics, 1.24 million foreign visitors are expected to come to the U.S. for the World Cup, less than half what FIFA, the tournament organizer, projected. Still, that reverses a trend in which international tourism dropped more than 6% this year. Nearly 2 million World Cup tickets have been sold, with most going to people in the three host countries. More seats will go on sale next Thursday.
Fans in 209 other countries and territories also bought tickets, according to FIFA, and many of those fans will need visas to use them. Getting those documents has proven difficult.
Last spring Congress warned the State Department that its visa-processing system — which required applicants in some countries to wait more than a year simply for an appointment — needed to be streamlined. Three weeks ago the Trump administration rolled out the FIFA Prioritized Appointment Scheduling System, or PASS, which will allow applicants with World Cup tickets to apply for an expedited visa interview.
The administration doubled down on that Thursday, instructing embassies and consulates to prioritize visa applications for foreigners planning to attend the World Cup or the 2028 L.A. Olympics. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration added more than 400 consular officials around the globe to handle the demand.
“All attention should be on our outstanding athletes, not bureaucratic backlogs,” said Rep. Young Kim (R-Anaheim Hills), who partnered with Kamlager-Dove to urge the State Department to expedite visa processing. “The administration has made clear that these major sporting events are a top priority.”
Yet while players and coaches are clear to come, some World Cup fans are ineligible even for the expedited visa process. In June the Trump administration, citing safety concerns, blocked or restricted travel to the U.S. for citizens of 19 countries — including Iran and Haiti, whose countries qualified for the World Cup — and is considering expanding the ban to another dozen nations following the shooting of two National Guard troops in Washington last month.
Iran qualified for the 2026 World Cup but is among the countries whose fans face restricted access traveling to the United States for the tournament.
(Mohamed Farag / Getty Images)
That isn’t exactly in line with the philosophy behind the tournament, which FIFA says is to bridge cultural, political and social divides. The ban also clashes with what President Trump said during his first term in 2018, when he promised FIFA in writing that fans from all countries would be able to enter the U.S. without discrimination.
“When we made the bid to host, we were taking on the responsibility of making sure that every country that qualified would be able to travel and play,” said Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Livermore), who attended college on a soccer scholarship. “I don’t like what it says about us as a host country, if we’re just denying visas and excluding countries.
“We’ve dramatically increased the number of teams who qualify. And that model cannot work if you have a host country that is making political decisions that affect who is eligible and who’s not.”
Swalwell worries about the long-term effects of such bans if the U.S. effectively determines which qualified teams can compete in the tournament.
“We will never have the World Cup again,” he said. “We will be permanently banned, essentially, from hosting. We will so tarnish our reputation.”
The congressman isn’t naive to the potential dangers the Trump policies are supposed to address. He is a member of the Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events, which focuses on oversight of security preparations for the World Cup as well as the 2028 Olympics and other international sporting events.
“The response, to me, is not to deny teams from playing,” Swalwell said. “It’s to surge resources and have security conditions and requirements for countries that are riskier.”
“There has to be proper security, vetting for folks coming in from other countries,” Padilla agreed. “Los Angeles is no stranger to these large-scale events, from prior Olympics that we’ve hosted, Super Bowls that we’ve hosted. State and local officials in California know what we’re doing. We just need the federal government to do its part.”
Some help was included in the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” which passed Congress in July. It includes $625 million for a grant program to help U.S. host cities fund measures such as enhanced background checks and cybersecurity. The bill also sets aside an additional $500 million in grants to counter the threat of drone attacks, which have become a key worry for organizers of large events.
“We’ve had, obviously, Super Bowls. But the World Cup is going to be multiple Super Bowls happening at once,” said a legislative aide for Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the chairman of the security task force. “We’ve never had this number of people coming in for this many events over two months, essentially.”
In addition to the threats from outside, human rights groups and Congressional representatives also raised fears that dispatching National Guard troops and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, who have been sent to the streets of at least 17 major U.S. cities — including seven World Cup markets — will send the wrong message by militarizing the games.
“Scaring the bejesus out of people unnecessarily, who are scared that if they go to a game, somebody’s going to jump out of a dumpster and snatch them and put them in a U-Haul van and deport them to Liberia, that’s not how you boost ticket sales,” said Kamlager-Dove, whose concerns are shared by Padilla, Swalwell and others in the California congressional delegation.
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood will host eight matches during the 2026 World Cup.
(FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Ticket distribution, which is managed by FIFA, also has become a concern amid brisk sales. For the first time, FIFA stepped into the lucrative secondary market for World Cup tickets, taking a 30% cut — in two separate 15% transactions — from every resale, a markup many scalpers would consider excessive. On a ticket resold for $1,000, for example, FIFA takes $150 from the seller (who receives $850) and charges the buyer an extra $150 (who pays $1,150 total), resulting in a $300 profit for FIFA.
In previous World Cups, resale prices were capped at face value and FIFA charged fees of 10% or less. Not so this year, with one seller reportedly asking $44,000 for a ticket to July’s final while FIFA’s lowest price for a private suite to that game is $199,000.
Yet there’s a waiting list to pay that.
By comparison, the most expensive ticket for the World Cup final in Qatar four years ago was $1,607, a 46% increase from 2018.
“They have to get a little more transparent about why they’re charging so much,” Kamlager-Dove said. “Why does it feel like price gouging?”
Finally, there’s the uncertainty that descends over World Cup cities every time Trump, who will attend Friday’s draw, muses about taking games out of places like Seattle, Boston and the San Francisco Bay Area, a warning he last made just three weeks ago. While FIFA officials dismissed the threats, they are difficult to ignore — especially for fans about to spend tens of thousands of dollars to travel to those cities.
The distractions, Swalwell said, are ones the World Cup doesn’t need less than 200 days from the opening game.
“It’s a real opportunity for America to shine. That’s appealing,” he said. “We have an opportunity to show that we’re open for business, we’re open for sport. I hope the president embraces that rather than sabotage the Americans who would suffer if he gets this wrong.”
Kim, like Padilla, is confident the tournament will be a historic success and says the president will deserve credit for that.
“This summer’s World Cup, along with the upcoming L.A. 2028 Olympics, is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Southern California to shine — bringing in billions in economic activity, millions of visitors, and showcasing the very best of our communities,” she said. “We can’t afford to take our eye off the ball. We must meet the moment and be prepared to welcome fans, athletes and media from around the globe.
“I have no doubt President Trump will continue driving this effort forward to make these games not just successful, but the greatest America has ever hosted.”
Sports
Colorado lawsuit settlement ensures schools can separate sports by biological sex without penalty
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A coalition of Colorado school districts reached a settlement with the state’s high school sports league that ensures the districts can enforce rules to protect girls’ sports from biological male trans athletes.
Rep. Jeff Crank, R-Col., announced the settlement in a post on X, Thursday.
“Biological men NEVER belong in biological women’s sports, period. The Colorado High School Activities Association finally made the right decision and will STOP penalizing school districts that protect women’s sports,” Crank wrote.
Colorado’s District 49 led a lawsuit against the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) in May, challenging Colorado state laws and CHSAA bylaws that required schools to allow transgender student-athletes to participate in teams matching their gender identity.
District 49 had just instituted its own policy classifying all school sports teams by “biological sex,” banning males from playing on teams or sharing locker rooms and hotel rooms with females.
Colorado state law and CHSAA bylaws are one of many in blue states that require schools to allow students to play on sports teams and use facilities that match their gender identity, not their sex at birth.
TRACK STAR WHO PROTESTED TRANS ATHLETE ALLEGES SHE WASN’T GIVEN HER MEDAL FOR MONTHS UNTIL SHE FILED A LAWSUIT
“Political culture is far out of balance on gender issues. Our lawsuit seeks a rational correction to excessive accommodations,” District 49 Superintendent Peter Hilts told Fox News Digital at the time. “Our state athletic association simultaneously advocates equity and discrimination. We asked them to resolve that discrepancy, and they declined, so we were compelled to pursue a legal ruling.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
In exchange for this recent settlement, the plaintiff school districts are now dismissing their claims against the CHSAA and agree to pay the association $60,000 to help cover its operational and legal costs from the lawsuit, according to Colorado Public Radio.
CHSAA has responded to Thursday’s developments in a new statement provided to Fox News Digital.
“The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) has acknowledged from the outset the complex challenges created by conflicting federal directives and state laws, as well as the difficult position in which this places member schools and districts. CHSAA affirms that the courts are ultimately responsible for determining how laws governing transgender athlete participation are applied,” the statement says.
“The association has never penalized a school or district for its policies on this issue, nor has it dictated what those policies should be. Eligibility decisions have always been left to individual schools and districts, which is why being named in this lawsuit was both frustrating and unnecessary.
“At no point before filing this lawsuit did the plaintiffs engage in any dialogue with CHSAA. No outreach was made to inquire about our policies, our procedures, or the steps we had already taken to support schools navigating these issues. Instead, CHSAA was directed to make a change, and a lawsuit was filed shortly thereafter—a decision we believe was much more performative than substantive.
“This litigation consumed time and resources without producing any change to how CHSAA operates. The settlement alters nothing about our policies, our practices, or our authority, and the fact that it results in no changes only underscores how unnecessary this lawsuit was.
“We are reassured that our bylaws were followed throughout this process and the agreement confirms that all legal fees will be covered by the plaintiff districts and schools involved. Most importantly, this resolution brings closure without any continued financial impact on the rest of our membership.
“CHSAA remains dedicated to upholding its commitment to fostering a safe environment for all students participating in educationally based athletics and activities.”
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
-
Politics3 days agoTrump rips Somali community as federal agents reportedly eye Minnesota enforcement sweep
-
News3 days agoTrump threatens strikes on any country he claims makes drugs for US
-
World3 days agoHonduras election council member accuses colleague of ‘intimidation’
-
Technology1 week agoNew scam sends fake Microsoft 365 login pages
-
Ohio1 day ago
Who do the Ohio State Buckeyes hire as the next offensive coordinator?
-
Politics1 week agoRep. Swalwell’s suit alleges abuse of power, adds to scrutiny of Trump official’s mortgage probes
-
News1 week ago2 National Guard members wounded in ‘targeted’ attack in D.C., authorities say
-
Ohio1 week agoSnow set to surge across Northeast Ohio, threatening Thanksgiving travel