By Zoila Palma: As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway with a record 48 nations competing in 104 matches, concerns over U.S. travel restrictions, visa denials and entry complications have drawn increasing scrutiny.
Team staff, federation officials, media personnel, players and referees have reported difficulties entering the U.S. ahead of the tournament, Aljazeera reports.
The latest controversy involves Somali referee Omar Artan, who was set to become the first Somali official to referee at a World Cup.
Despite holding a valid U.S. visa and being named among FIFA’s 52 tournament referees, Artan was denied entry upon arrival in Miami and returned to Istanbul.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said he was deemed inadmissible due to vetting concerns. His case has reignited debate about immigration policies and their impact on one of the world’s largest sporting events.
Other teams and individuals have also faced challenges. Iran’s national team received visas just 10 days before its opening match, although several support staff members were denied entry. The team will be based in Tijuana, Mexico, and travel into the United States only for matches. Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was detained for nearly seven hours and had his phone inspected before being allowed entry, while the Iraqi team’s photographer was ultimately denied admission.
Haitian midfielder Woodensky Pierre received his visa late and missed a friendly match as a result, while Swiss forward Breel Embolo faced delays linked to a previous conviction before eventually being cleared to travel.
The visa issues have extended beyond players and officials.
Fans from countries including Morocco and Scotland have reported having travel documents denied or revoked after spending thousands of dollars on flights, hotels and tickets.
International sports lawyer Khayran Noor said major sporting events depend not only on logistics and security but also on public perception, while United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called for a “massive rethink” of U.S. immigration policies and expressed hope that concerns over racial profiling and immigration enforcement would not further affect the tournament.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed the controversy on the eve of the World Cup, saying FIFA continues to seek solutions but cannot override government decisions.
The post International News: U.S. Visa and entry problems cast shadow over Record-Breaking 2026 World Cup appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway with a record 48 nations competing in 104 matches, concerns over U.S. travel restrictions, visa denials and entry complications have drawn increasing scrutiny. Team staff, federation officials, media personnel, players and referees have reported difficulties entering the U.S. ahead of the tournament, Aljazeera reports.
The post International News: U.S. Visa and entry problems cast shadow over Record-Breaking 2026 World Cup appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
