The heads of the Palestinian and Iranian football associations have been denied US visas to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Iran reporting 15 federation members blocked from entry. The denials come amid tightened US immigration rules and raise questions about FIFA's ability to guarantee access for all member federations.
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his nation's first World Cup game against Panama in Toronto after Canada refused his visa application. The former Arsenal player faces seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
Human Rights Watch and advocacy groups are urging FIFA sponsors to pressure U.S. federal officials for an 'ICE Truce' that would halt immigration enforcement operations at World Cup venues, as concerns mount over ICE presence at the tournament being held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Iran's national football team is preparing for their 2026 World Cup opener against New Zealand while training in Tijuana under armed guard, amid cartel violence including a body found outside their stadium and five police officers killed nearby. Additionally, 11 members of Iran's delegation remain banned from entering the United States despite four successful visa appeals.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the organization on the eve of the 2026 World Cup, telling critics to 'chill and relax' amid mounting concerns over visa problems affecting players and fans, while acknowledging FIFA cannot overrule host nations' immigration decisions. The United Nations has criticized FIFA over the immigration issues.
Widespread US visa rejections for the 2026 World Cup have prevented fans, officials, and a referee from attending the tournament, prompting an Argentine company to give free televisions to denied fans while drawing criticism over immigration policies affecting the event.
Omar Artan, Africa's referee of the year, was barred from entering the United States for the 2026 World Cup due to alleged associations with terror organizations, according to U.S. officials. In response, UEFA announced he will officiate the prestigious European Super Cup final in August or September.
Omar Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup, was denied entry to the United States after an 11-hour immigration interview in Miami despite holding proper documentation and visa. FIFA confirmed he will not work at the tournament, with reports indicating two Iraqi national team members also faced detention.
Iran's national football team landed in Tijuana, Mexico on June 7, 2026, ahead of the FIFA World Cup after the United States denied visas to several team support staff members. The team will be based in Mexico despite all three group stage matches being scheduled in US stadiums, creating a diplomatic row between Tehran and Washington.
Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup in the United States has sparked multiple controversies, including FIFA's ban on pre-revolutionary Iranian flags at venues, U.S. immigration policies blocking Iranian officials and even a Somali referee from entering the country, and allegations that Iran's soccer system has been used for surveillance by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Fans from Senegal and Ivory Coast will be unable to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in the United States after both countries were added to a travel ban imposed by the Trump administration in December. The ban affects supporters of two qualified African nations less than five months before the tournament begins.
