The 2026 World Cup has already become one of the most politically complicated tournaments in recent history — and the first ball hasn't even been kicked yet.
For many supporters, the biggest challenge isn't finding tickets or booking flights. It's simply getting into the United States.
Visa issues, lengthy interrogations, cancelled travel authorizations and even outright refusals of entry have affected not only fans, but also players, federation officials and FIFA representatives. And despite being the organizer of the tournament, FIFA has little power to change the situation.
Getting to the World Cup has become a challenge of its own
At the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 tournament in Qatar, fans benefited from special supporter cards that allowed ticket holders to enter the host countries without obtaining separate visas.
FIFA hoped to introduce a similar system for the 2026 World Cup, but the proposal was rejected on security grounds.
Instead, organizers launched FIFA PASS in 2025 — a program designed to give ticket holders priority access to visa interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates. The idea was to reduce waiting times and lower the chances of fans missing the tournament due to administrative delays.
However, priority processing does not guarantee approval.
Final decisions remain entirely in the hands of U.S. immigration authorities, who assess each application individually. And this is where many problems begin.
Citizens of four World Cup-qualified nations — Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast — currently face U.S. travel bans. Additional restrictions affect residents of Algeria, Cape Verde and Tunisia, while applicants from numerous countries across Africa, South America and the Middle East continue to encounter significant difficulties obtaining entry permission.
Uzbekistan, making its historic World Cup debut, has reportedly seen visa refusal rates of around 40% among supporters hoping to attend the tournament. Similar figures have been reported for Ecuadorian fans and applicants from several African and Middle Eastern nations.
Even obtaining a visa does not always guarantee the trip will happen.
Just days before the tournament began, some fans discovered that the status of their travel authorization had changed, forcing them to cancel flights, sell tickets and abandon their World Cup plans altogether.
The United States also operates a visa bond program requiring citizens of around 50 countries to provide deposits ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 when applying for tourist visas. Authorities later waived these requirements for fans who had purchased World Cup tickets and registered through FIFA PASS before mid-April.
There have been other complications as well.
Iranian supporters learned only days before kickoff that their ticket allocations had been cancelled — including for fans who had already arranged their travel to the United States. Under FIFA regulations, each national federation receives 8% of the tickets for its team's matches and distributes them among supporters.
Interrogations, searches and denied entry
The difficulties have not been limited to ordinary fans.
Players, team staff and even FIFA officials have faced heightened scrutiny upon arrival in the United States.
When Uzbekistan's national team landed in New York, players and staff reportedly underwent extensive screening involving sniffer dogs and metal detectors. Some members of the delegation had personal belongings temporarily confiscated for inspection. Local media linked the unusually strict procedures to the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump in the city at the time.
Senegal's delegation experienced similarly intense treatment, with players reportedly asked to remove their shoes on the airport tarmac while officials searched luggage, equipment and personal belongings. Several individuals were subjected to additional checks.
Brazil's national team also underwent strict security procedures after arriving in New Jersey. Players and staff were screened on the runway, with metal detectors used to inspect bags and personal items.
Perhaps the most bizarre incident involved Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein.
He was detained and questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago's airport after authorities confused him with a suspected terrorist who shared a similar surname. Hussein was eventually allowed into the country.
The same could not be said for Iraqi team photographer Talal Salah.
After enduring a ten-hour interrogation and a search of his mobile phone, he was denied entry into the United States altogether.
But the most controversial case emerged just days before the opening match.
FIFA referee Omar Artan of Somalia was refused entry into the United States despite holding a diplomatic passport and the necessary travel documentation. Upon arriving in Miami, he was sent back to Turkey — the country from which he had flown.
Artan had been selected as one of the 52 referees for the 2026 World Cup.
According to his account, he was questioned for more than 11 hours, had all of his documents reviewed, and even saw officials examine records related to his refereeing career before being placed in a detention facility ahead of his return flight. No specific reason for the decision was given.
"I am very, very disappointed. I was just a referee trying to fulfill the biggest dream of my life — to go to the World Cup. I had all the required documents and the correct visa. I think they have a problem with my country."
Somali citizens face significant restrictions when seeking entry to the United States, and visa applications are frequently rejected unless special exemptions apply.
Iran's complicated World Cup situation
U.S. authorities stated that all essential members of Iran's World Cup delegation had been granted entry.
In reality, around 15 officials from the Iranian Football Federation reportedly failed to obtain visas for the tournament, including the organization's vice-president, Mehdi Mohammad Nabi.
Iran's players eventually secured the necessary documentation and were able to begin preparations, but that did little to ease concerns within the camp.
Players and officials openly acknowledged that U.S. immigration policies had created an atmosphere of uncertainty and psychological pressure. There was no guarantee, they argued, that circumstances would not suddenly change.
Although all of Iran's group-stage matches are scheduled to take place in the United States, the federation chose to establish its training base in Mexico.
Iran's ambassador to Mexico even suggested that the team could leave U.S. territory after each match, although the federation has yet to formally confirm those plans.
FIFA can do very little
Unfortunately for everyone involved, FIFA has no authority over national immigration systems.
The organization reiterated this position following Omar Artan's case, stressing that while it can offer support and facilitate communication, the final decision always belongs to the host country.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed the issue directly:
"Believe me, we always try to find solutions. Always. But at the same time, we must respect the fact that we are not the kings of the world who can rule governments, police authorities or anyone else. We are a sporting organization, and we try to do everything possible with the means we have."
The 2026 World Cup promises to be historic for many reasons.
Yet before fans can celebrate goals and players can chase glory, many first have to overcome an obstacle that has nothing to do with football: getting through immigration.
Published by Patrick Jane
11.06.2026