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

Iran has said it will not play its scheduled fixtures in the US after Trump warned Iranian players they would be at risk.

Traveling fans from various countries have also voiced difficulties over obtaining visas and fears of being targeted by immigration agents.

But Montagliani, who heads soccer's North and Central American and Caribbean confederation CONCACAF, said the concerns were no different to those that preceded previous editions.

"The reality of the World Cup — every World Cup FIFA has put on — is there's always been geopolitical issues. Always," he told the Business of Soccer conference in Atlanta.

"Go back to 1978, Argentina, the junta and all that stuff," he added, referring to the edition that took place against the backdrop of the South American country's military dictatorship.

"Right now, it's just magnified because everything else in the world is magnified, whether it's on social media, or whether it's how the media reports things," said Montagliani.

"But it doesn't change our job. It's a reality of doing business. We deal with it. We will deal with it.

"And, at the end of the day, like every other World Cup, on June 11, when the ball starts rolling, somehow everybody forgets about everything else and starts worrying about the game," he added.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has come under scrutiny for his close relationship with Trump, which has included attending a Gaza peace summit brokered by the US president.

Infantino awarded Trump the specially created FIFA Peace Prize at the World Cup draw ceremony in December.

"At the end of the day, our main goal is to ensure that the security is top-notch," said Montagliani.

"(To ensure) that the fans are safe, that they're going to enjoy themselves, which is why we have to have our relationship solid with every federal government involved — Canada, the US and Mexico.

"And then, once the ball starts rolling, it's all about the football."

AFP