The USA leg of the 2026 World Cup has come under scrutiny due to visa and entry problems even before the tournament started. The US's increasingly strict immigration and entry policies are impacting a wide range of people, from referees and players to staff and fans.
One of the most notable examples of the crisis was Omar Artan, expected to be the first Somali World Cup referee, being denied entry to the US. Artan, one of the 52 referees appointed by FIFA for the tournament, was unable to enter the country after arriving in Miami, and it was announced he would not be able to officiate matches.
FIFA states that host countries do not interfere with immigration and visa processes. According to the organization, the final decision on whether a person receives a visa and is admitted to the country rests with the host nation.
Iran, Iraq, and South Africa Also Affected
Iran is among the countries affected by the visa crisis. According to Iranian state media, at least 15 Iranian officials and team staff, deemed "vital" for the team's campaign, were denied visas.
The US claims it has granted entry to all necessary Iranian support personnel. However, the Iranian Football Federation alleges that the host country canceled the ticket allocation for group matches to prevent the presence of Iranian fans. Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei said, "We are upset by this behavior. Such a thing has definitely never happened before."
Iran was forced to move its training camp from the US to Tijuana, Mexico. The team may still need to enter and exit the US for their Group G matches in Inglewood and Seattle.
Iraqi player Aymen Hussein is also among those affected. The 30-year-old forward, who plays for Al-Karma, was questioned for about seven hours at Chicago O’Hare Airport before being admitted. Team photographer Talal Salah was denied entry; his phone was searched, he was held for over 10 hours, and ultimately not allowed in.
South Africa's national team's World Cup journey was delayed due to documentation issues. The South African delegation, scheduled to face Mexico in the opening match on June 11, was delayed in departing Johannesburg for Mexico City because some players had incomplete Mexican entry documents. This is seen more as an organizational error than a political barrier.
South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie described the situation as "shameful and extremely unfair to the players and technical staff," placing responsibility on the South African Football Federation.
Fans and Visa Costs
Swiss national team forward Breel Embolo also had to join his camp late due to US visa issues. The problem is believed to be linked to a suspended fine he received in 2023 for a threat charge. The Cameroon-born player had to make an urgent application at the US Embassy in Bern to obtain travel approval.
According to BBC Scotland News, two families planning to support Scotland at the World Cup for the first time since 1998 had their approved ESTA permits canceled just days before departure. The Speirs siblings from Kirkcaldy received ESTA approval the day after applying on December 14 but encountered a "no travel authorization" message in the system on June 3.
For fans from countries outside the ESTA program, entering the US appears both bureaucratically and financially more difficult. The ESTA fee is $40, while a standard visitor visa costs $185. These amounts add extra burdens before even considering airfare and match tickets.
Under Trump's potential second term, entry to the US became even more restricted for many nationals. The broad travel ban prohibits full or partial entry for citizens of 39 countries. Additionally, immigrant visa processing has been completely halted in 75 countries. Among the 48 countries participating in the 2026 World Cup, Haiti and Iran face full entry bans.
Partial restrictions apply to Ivory Coast and Senegal. Standard US visa rejection rates exceed 40% for citizens of Uzbekistan, Ecuador, and many countries in Africa and the Middle East. A few weeks ago, the US also dropped a $15,000 visa bond requirement that would have affected fans from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia.
All these factors suggest that the 2026 tournament, promoted as the largest World Cup in modern history, could become one of the most difficult events to access for thousands of fans, journalists, staff, and athletes.
