Players, officials, staff members and supporters have faced a series of visa and entry problems in the final days before the 2026 World Cup.
The tournament begins on 11 June and will be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The build-up has been affected by travel disruption involving national teams, match officials and fans. The cases have placed fresh scrutiny on border and visa procedures before the first ball has been kicked.
World Cup officials and players caught up in visa and entry issues
One of the clearest cases involves Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who will no longer officiate at the tournament after being refused entry to the United States.
FIFA confirmed that Artan would be unable to train or officiate at the World Cup after his entry issue was not resolved. The governing body has also said visa and immigration decisions remain the responsibility of host governments.
The case has drawn wider attention because Somalia is among the countries affected by travel restrictions under President Donald Trump. However, the precise reason for Artan being refused entry has not been publicly confirmed.
Iraq have also been affected. Striker Aymen Hussein was questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago O’Hare airport after arriving with the squad, according to reporting based on an Iraqi sporting official.
Hussein was eventually allowed into the country, but Iraq’s team photographer was denied entry. That turned a player delay into a wider delegation issue before Iraq’s opening World Cup fixture.
Iran’s preparations have also been hit by visa problems. The Iranian football federation accused the United States of refusing visas for key managerial and administrative members of its delegation.
Other reports have said 15 Iranian officials and staff were refused visas. Iran’s players were granted visas, but the dispute has complicated the team’s preparation and travel arrangements before their group matches in the United States.
Switzerland forward Breel Embolo was another player affected before the tournament. His ESTA travel authorisation was placed under further review before he was later cleared to travel and join the Swiss squad in the United States.
Supporters and delegations also face disruption before World Cup 2026
The visa and entry issues have not been limited to players and match officials.
Some Scotland supporters have reported that previously approved ESTA travel authorisations were revoked shortly before departure. Affected fans had already booked flights, accommodation and match tickets, raising concerns about financial losses and the lack of time to seek alternative travel documents.
South Africa’s World Cup preparations were also disrupted when the squad’s departure was delayed by visa issues before their opening match against Mexico. That case related to Mexican documentation rather than a confirmed US entry refusal.
The separate cases involve different countries, documents and entry processes. However, they have emerged against the backdrop of stricter US immigration controls and travel restrictions under Trump.
That has made visa and border access one of the first major off-field issues of the tournament. FIFA and local organisers now face questions over whether teams, officials, staff and supporters can move through the tournament without further disruption.
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