In previous men’s World Cup events, FIFA has successfully navigated complex immigration and entry protocols. For instance, Brazil enacted legislation in 2014 allowing complimentary temporary visas for ticket holders. In Russia and Qatar, local authorities circumvented traditional border issues by utilizing Fan IDs and Hayya cards, which also offered free public transport. However, the 2026 tournament finds FIFA ensnared by stringent border controls instituted during the second term of the Trump administration. Below, we explore some individuals impacted by these developments.
Omar Artan’s Visa Denial
Omar Artan, one of the 52 referees selected by FIFA for the World Cup, faced a setback upon his arrival in Miami, where he was denied entry. This incident marks a significant moment, as Artan was poised to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup match.
FIFA confirmed that Artan “will be unable to train and officiate” and distanced itself from the diplomatic fallout, stating, “FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications … a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”
Somali Referee Remains Positive Amid Challenges
Despite his visa troubles, the 34-year-old referee, who earned the title of 2025 men’s referee of the year from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), expressed resilience. Having arrived in Miami from Istanbul, he was turned away by US Customs and Border Protection. Artan would have made history as the first Somali to officiate in a World Cup.
“Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,” Artan remarked in a statement, as reported by local news.
“I would like to thank FIFA and CAF for their unwavering support, and I aim to maintain my refereeing standards as I look ahead. I appreciate the football community’s encouragement and wish my fellow referees great success during the World Cup. I hope to join them again in future tournaments.”
Additionally, reports indicate that at least 15 Iranian officials and staff members, deemed “integral” to their campaign, have also experienced visa denials. While US authorities maintain they have permitted entry to all necessary support personnel, Iran’s football federation claims that the co-hosts have rescinded ticket allocations for their group matches, aiming to “hinder the attendance of Iranian fans.”
“We are disappointed by this behavior,” stated head coach Amir Ghalenoei. “Such a situation has never occurred before.”
As a result, Iran has relocated its training facility to Tijuana, Mexico. The team now faces the logistical challenge of commuting to the US for their Group G matches in Inglewood and Seattle. Iran’s ambassador to Mexico indicated that the squad must enter and exit the US on the same day as their games, complicating their ability to fulfill FIFA’s required pre-match media obligations, though this has been contradicted by Iranian state media.
The Iraqi Striker and Team Photographer
The ongoing regional tensions involving Iran have adversely affected Iraqi football. With US consular services in Iraq currently halted, acquiring standard visas has become nearly impossible.
For those who already held visas, entry has proven problematic. Aymen Hussein, a 30-year-old striker from Al-Karma, endured nearly seven hours of questioning at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport before being granted entry. Unfortunately, the team photographer, Talal Salah, was not as fortunate; he faced over ten hours of detention and was ultimately refused entry following a search of his phone.
South African Team’s Travel Woes
The South African team encountered substantial delays in their preparations for the World Cup, set to kick off against Mexico on June 11, due to paperwork errors. After a celebratory parade, their charter flight from Johannesburg to Mexico City was grounded because several players lacked the necessary entry documents for Mexico.
This situation appears to stem from administrative oversight rather than intentional malice. South Africa’s sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, labeled the incident “embarrassing and grossly unfair to the players and coaching staff,” attributing the fault to the South African Football Association.
Challenges for Swiss Forward
Switzerland’s forward Breel Embolo faced a last-minute hurdle with his US entry visa, causing him to join his teammates late in their Group B training camp. This issue is reportedly linked to a 2023 conviction for making multiple threats, resulting in a suspended fine for the Rennes player. Embolo had to urgently visit the US embassy in Bern to obtain late approval for his travel.
Scottish Fans in Distress
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (Esta) used by the US has created chaos for British fans. According to reports, two families planning to support Scotland in their first World Cup since 1998 found their previously approved travel status revoked just days before their departure.
The Speirs brothers from Kirkcaldy applied for their Estas on December 14; they received approval the next day, only to be marked as “travel not authorized” on June 3.
Travel Bans and Rising Entry Costs
For World Cup fans from countries not included in the Esta program, entry barriers are both financial and bureaucratic. While an Esta costs $40 (£30), a standard visitor visa is significantly more expensive at $185 (£140), adding a hefty burden before even considering travel and ticket expenses.
The likelihood of entering the US has significantly declined since Donald Trump began his second term. A broad travel ban restricts citizens from 39 countries from entry, while immigrant visa processing has ceased entirely in 75 nations.
Out of the 48 teams participating in this World Cup, both Haiti and Iran face complete entry bans, while Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal contend with partial restrictions. Additionally, many competing nations experience visa rejection rates exceeding 40%, affecting entrants from Africa and the Middle East, including Uzbekistan and Ecuador.
In a recent concession, the US waived a $15,000 visa bond that threatened fans from five African nations—Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Tunisia—just weeks ago. For countless supporters, journalists, and officials, this World Cup, touted as the largest in modern history, is swiftly becoming one of the most inaccessible.
