ISTANBUL – The 2026 World Cup is already surrounded by crises due to the US's stricter immigration policies. Omar Artan, expected to be the first Somali referee at a World Cup, was denied entry to the US; many others, from Iranian officials to Iraqi players, and from Scottish fans to the South African delegation, are facing access issues to the tournament.
Is the largest World Cup in modern history, plagued by visa crises, becoming the most inaccessible tournament? Months before the 2026 World Cup, the US leg of the tournament is in the spotlight due to visa and immigration problems. In previous tournaments, FIFA managed to bypass host countries' visa policies with special arrangements.
However, for the 2026 World Cup jointly hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, the US's increasingly strict entry policies are creating obstacles for many teams, officials, and fans. In 2014, Brazil granted free temporary visas to ticket holders. In Russia and Qatar, Fan ID and Hayya cards served both as entry permits and public transport cards.
In 2026, FIFA is facing the border and immigration policies of the Donald Trump administration. One of the most notable figures in the visa crisis is Omar Artan. Artan, one of the 52 referees appointed by FIFA for the World Cup, was denied entry after arriving in Miami.
Artan was preparing to become the first Somali referee to officiate a World Cup match, but FIFA announced that he would not be able to participate in training or officiate matches. FIFA stated that host countries do not intervene in immigration and visa processes and emphasized that the final decision on whether a person receives a visa and is admitted lies with the host country.
Iran is also among the countries affected by the visa crisis. According to Iranian state media, at least 15 Iranian officials and staff, deemed "vital" for the team's campaign, were denied visas.
While the US claims it granted entry to all "necessary" Iranian support personnel, the Iranian Football Federation alleges that the host country canceled the ticket quota allocated for Iranian fans for group matches to prevent their presence. Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei said, "We are upset by this behavior. Such a thing has never happened before."
Iran had to move its training camp from the US to Tijuana, Mexico. The team may need to enter and exit the US for their Group G matches in Inglewood and Seattle. Iran's ambassador to Mexico stated that the team might have to enter and leave the US on match days, which could jeopardize FIFA-mandated pre-match media activities.
Iraqi footballers and a photojournalist were also affected. The Iran war has impacted Iraqi football as well. The suspension of US consular services in Iraq has made standard visa applications nearly impossible. Some individuals with the necessary documents previously also faced issues at the border.
Thirty-year-old Iraqi forward Aymen Hussein, 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. Salah's phone was called, he was held for over 10 hours, and ultimately was not allowed into the country.
The South African delegation was delayed due to document errors. The South African national team's World Cup journey was also delayed by a paperwork crisis. The delegation, scheduled to face Mexico in the opening match on June 11, was stopped from departing Johannesburg to Mexico City due to missing entry documents for some players. This crisis is considered more an organizational error than a political barrier.
South Africa's Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie described the situation as "shameful and extremely unfair to the players and technical staff." McKenzie blamed the South African Football Federation. Switzerland's forward Breel Embolo also had to join his camp late due to US visa issues.
The problem is believed to be linked to Embolo's deferred fine from a 2023 threat charge. The Cameroon-born player had to urgently apply at the US Embassy in Bern to obtain travel approval. Scottish fans' ESTA permits were canceled. The US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) also caused problems for some fans.
According to BBC Scotland News, two families planning to travel 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 applied on December 14, and their applications were approved the next day. However, on June 3, they encountered a "no travel authorization" message in the system.
Visa crisis at the World Cup: Is the biggest World Cup becoming the most inaccessible? For fans outside ESTA-covered countries, entering the US is both bureaucratically and financially more difficult. The ESTA fee is $40, while a standard visitor visa costs $185. This represents a significant additional cost before plane tickets and match tickets.
The possibility of entering the US during a second Trump presidency has decreased for many nationals. The broad travel ban completely or partially bars citizens of 39 countries from entering the US. Additionally, immigrant visa processing has been fully suspended in 75 countries. Among the 48 countries participating in the 2026 World Cup, Haiti and Iran face full entry bans.
Ivory Coast and Senegal face partial restrictions. 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 made a small concession by dropping a $15,000 visa bond requirement that would have affected fans from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia.
Still, the situation remains unchanged. The 2026 tournament, promoted as the largest World Cup in modern history, risks becoming the most inaccessible World Cup for thousands of fans, journalists, officials, and athletes.
