Could World Cup Crowds Threaten The Water Infrastructure Of New York And New Jersey?

Questions remain about whether host communities are ready to handle the demands of a tournament expected to draw such large crowds. (Credit: Getty Images)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off this month, and while global attention mostly focuses on the matches, ticket prices and travel bans, questions remain about whether some host communities are ready to handle the demands of a tournament expected to draw such large crowds.

For communities already contending with water access challenges, the World Cup threatens to further strain systems already under pressure.