As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Mexico on Thursday with a lot of excitement, a different narrative is emerging in the United States. A visa ban, which disproportionately affects people of color and travelers from certain countries on a federal “travel restriction list,” is preventing entry into the U.S. This situation also impacts players, officials, and team staff. The lack of clear information regarding these temporary visa denials raises questions about why the U.S. was chosen to host this World Cup at such a moment.
Last week, Switzerland’s striker Briel Embolo caught attention when he was barred from entering the U.S. just hours before his team was set to leave. Officials mentioned a “visa review” due to concerns around his past criminal record. Embolo had faced charges for making threats in 2023, which ended in a minor fine and a suspended sentence. Considering the relatively minor nature of his issues and the fact that he is a person of color, the entire visa review process seemed questionable. After an appeal, he was granted entry, and notably, the State Department’s own guidelines suggest he shouldn’t have faced any issues.
While pressure may have helped Embolo secure entry, the same cannot be said for referee Omar Altan. Recognized as Africa’s best referee in 2025, Altan aimed to make history as the first Somali to officiate a World Cup match. However, he was detained upon arrival at Miami International Airport due to unspecified “scrutiny concerns.” FIFA ultimately removed him from the list of tournament referees, but he was welcomed back as a hero in Mogadishu. The reasons for his ban remain unclear, although the travel restrictions enacted by the previous administration included numerous Muslim-majority and African nations.
The Iraqi squad, too, faced challenges when star player Aymen Hussein was held at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. He underwent a seven-hour interrogation before being permitted to enter. Similarly, the team’s photographer, Talal Salah, faced a lengthy ten-hour questioning session, leading to his denial of entry, reportedly for the same “screening concerns” faced by Altan. Salah, an experienced sports photographer, was set to cover Iraq’s first World Cup in four decades.
Andrew Giuliani, who heads the White House World Cup task force—appointed largely because he is Rudy Giuliani’s son—did not provide details about the reported detentions, merely stating that the right decisions were made regarding the visa denials.
As thousands of fans arrive for the World Cup, America’s immigration policy is under intense scrutiny. To date, all Iraqi fans have been refused entry, leaving the designated fan section during the group stage empty, while more stories of detained individuals surface daily.
This lack of clarity has sparked global criticism of U.S. border policies. Although some might argue that certain restrictions are isolated incidents, it appears that broader patterns of discrimination are emerging. Fans from Iraq perceive these restrictions to be driven more by nationality than by specific security concerns.
The World Cup is meant to be the largest global sports celebration after the Olympics, but issues are already casting a shadow over the event before it even starts. It seems that the U.S. is selecting who can enter based on nationality rather than merit. Concerns about racial profiling and other issues have been raised by various observers, including U.N. representatives.
It’s hard to deny that this situation was foreseeable. Many anticipated significant immigration challenges leading up to the World Cup, and here we are, witnessing those predictions come to fruition. Meanwhile, FIFA remains largely silent, brushing aside the criticism and insisting that the U.S. has the right to deny entry as they see fit, leaving fans who invested in tickets, traveling, and accommodations in a tough spot.
