FIFA has historically navigated complex immigration and entry regulations for its men’s World Cup tournaments with relative ease. In 2014, Brazil enacted a law that allowed ticket holders to obtain temporary visas at no cost. Similarly, during the tournaments in Russia and Qatar, the respective governments facilitated entry by implementing Fan IDs and Hayya cards, which served as alternative visa documents and also granted free public transportation. However, the 2026 tournament is facing challenges due to the stringent border policies associated with the second Trump administration. Below are some of the individuals impacted by these changes.
Omar Artan, one of the 52 referees selected by FIFA for the tournament, was denied entry upon his arrival in Miami. Artan was poised to make history as the first individual from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup event.
FIFA stated that he “will be unable to train and officiate,” distancing itself from the diplomatic repercussions. The organization clarified that it does not engage in the immigration processes of host nations, including visa evaluations, and emphasized that it is ultimately the host government that decides who is granted entry.
According to state media, at least 15 officials and support staff from Iran, described as “integral” to their campaign, have also been denied visas. While the U.S. claims it has permitted entry to all “necessary” personnel, Iran’s football federation asserts that the co-hosts have revoked ticket allocations for their group matches to “hinder the presence of Iranian fans.”
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei expressed his frustration, stating, “We are upset about this behavior. It has certainly never happened before.”
As a result, Iran has relocated its training base to Tijuana, Mexico. The team now faces the logistical challenge of traveling into the U.S. for their Group G matches in Inglewood and Seattle. Iran’s ambassador to Mexico indicated that the squad must enter and exit the U.S. on the same day as their games, complicating their ability to fulfill FIFA’s media obligations, although this has been contradicted by Iranian state media.
The ongoing international tensions involving Iran have also adversely affected Iraqi football. With U.S. consular services in Iraq suspended, obtaining standard visas has become exceedingly difficult.
For those who already had the necessary paperwork, the U.S. border has proven challenging. Aymen Hussein, a 30-year-old striker for Al-Karma, was detained and interrogated for nearly seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport before being permitted entry. In contrast, the team’s photographer, Talal Salah, faced over ten hours of detention and was ultimately denied entry following a phone search.
South Africa’s departure for the World Cup, where they are scheduled to play Mexico in the opening match on June 11, was significantly delayed due to paperwork issues. After a festive departure parade, their charter flight from Johannesburg to Mexico City was grounded because several players lacked proper entry documents for Mexico.
This situation appears to stem more from administrative inefficiency than intentional obstruction. South Africa’s sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, labeled the scenario as “embarrassing and grossly unfair towards the players and coaching staff,” placing the blame on the South African Football Association.
Swiss forward Breel Embolo encountered delays in joining his teammates for their Group B training camp due to complications with his U.S. entry visa. The problem is believed to be linked to a 2023 conviction for making threats, for which he received a suspended fine. The player had to make an urgent trip to the U.S. embassy in Bern to obtain last-minute approval.
The U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) has also caused confusion for British fans. According to reports from BBC Scotland News, two families planning to support Scotland in their first World Cup since 1998 found their previously approved statuses revoked just days before departure.
The Speirs brothers from Kirkcaldy applied for their ESTAs on December 14, received approval the next day, but were marked as “travel not authorized” on June 3.
For fans outside the few nations included in the ESTA program, the barriers to entry are both financial and bureaucratic. While an ESTA costs $40 (£30), a standard visitor visa is priced at $185 (£140), adding significant expenses prior to booking travel and tickets.
Overall, the likelihood of entering the U.S. has sharply declined since Donald Trump began his second term. A sweeping travel ban restricts citizens from 39 countries, while processing of immigrant visas has ceased in 75 nations.
Among the 48 teams participating in this World Cup, Haiti and Iran face total entry bans to the U.S., while Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal face partial restrictions. Furthermore, several nations experience visa rejection rates exceeding 40%, including Uzbekistan and Ecuador, as well as numerous teams from Africa and the Middle East.
Recently, the U.S. did make a minor concession by waiving a $15,000 visa bond that previously threatened fans from five African nations—Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Tunisia. For many supporters, journalists, and officials, this World Cup, touted as the largest in modern history, is rapidly becoming the least accessible.
