The 2026 World Cup has become a headline for access issues even before it started, due to the US's entry and visa policies. Problems in the US leg of the tournament are affecting a wide range of people, from referees and players to staff and fans.
Omar Artan, expected to be the first Somali World Cup referee, was reportedly denied entry to the US and will not be able to officiate matches. Artan, one of the 52 referees appointed by FIFA for the tournament, was unable to enter the country after arriving in Miami.
FIFA emphasized that host countries control immigration and visa decisions and that the final decision on whether a person receives a visa and is admitted lies with the host country.
Iranian Officials and Team Staff Also Affected
Iran is among the countries impacted 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.
While the US claims it granted entry to all necessary Iranian support personnel, the Iranian Football Federation alleges that the host country canceled ticket allocations for group matches to prevent Iranian fans from attending. Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei said, "We are disturbed by this behavior. Such a thing has 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.
Players and Staff Faced Border Issues
Iraqi player Aymen Hussein 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 missing documents. The squad, scheduled to face Mexico in the opening match on June 11, was held up in Johannesburg because some players lacked proper Mexican entry documents.
Swiss 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 related to a threat charge.
ESTA and Visa Fees Burden Fans
The US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) has also caused problems for some fans. 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 applied for ESTA on December 14. Their applications were approved the next day, but on June 3 they encountered a "no travel authorization" message in the system.
For fans from countries not covered by ESTA, entering the US is both bureaucratically and financially more difficult. The ESTA fee is $40, while a standard visitor visa costs $185.
Under Trump’s potential second term, entry to the US became even more restricted for many nationals. A broad travel ban bars citizens of 39 countries either fully or partially from entering the US. 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. Ivory Coast and Senegal are subject to 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 took a small step back 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, continues to be at the center of access issues for thousands of fans, journalists, staff, and athletes.
