Two months. The 2026 World Cup kicks off in the United States in two months, and we just got a preview of what could be a logistical nightmare.
France's friendly against Colombia in Washington turned into a security disaster that left Didier Deschamps - a man who's won World Cups as both player and coach - absolutely stunned by the chaos. Massive delays. Fans trapped in security lines. And the kicker? People were still outside the stadium 15 minutes after kickoff.
Let me paint the picture for you, folks. This wasn't some sold-out Champions League final. This was a friendly. A warmup game. Low stakes, manageable crowds, every reason to get it right. And according to L'Équipe, it was a complete mess. Traffic jams. Interminable security lines. Fans missing significant chunks of the match they paid to see.
One security guard, when fans complained they were missing the game, reportedly said: "Calm down, there's time." This was 15 minutes after kickoff. That's not customer service - that's complete organizational failure.
Deschamps was left shocked by the security checks and overall organization. And remember, this is a man who's seen it all. He's managed at World Cups. He's dealt with massive tournaments across Europe. He knows what professional event management looks like. This wasn't it.
Now ask yourself the question that matters: If they can't handle a friendly, how are they going to handle the World Cup?
We're talking about the biggest sporting event on the planet. Dozens of matches across multiple cities. Hundreds of thousands of international visitors. Sold-out stadiums in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami. High security concerns, huge crowds, massive global television audiences.
And the organizational infrastructure apparently can't handle a Tuesday night friendly in Washington without people missing the start of the match.
The United States has two months to figure this out. Two months to fix security protocols, traffic flow, venue management. Two months to prove they can handle what's coming. Because if this is what a low-stakes friendly looks like, what's going to happen when it actually matters?
France just got a preview of what could be a disaster. They're not alone - every team coming to the World Cup should be looking at this and wondering what they're walking into. Every fan planning to travel should be asking hard questions about whether the logistics will be ready.
The World Cup should be a celebration of the beautiful game. It should be seamless, professional, memorable for all the right reasons. What happened in Washington was memorable for all the wrong ones.
Two months, folks. The clock is ticking. And right now, the United States is behind schedule.
That's what sports is all about - or at least, what we hope it can still be when the actual tournament starts.
