Tight US visas threaten 2026 World Cup; Somalia referee sent back
US officials say only the “right” people may enter as teams, officials and fans face hours-long screening.
US visa policy and immigration screening are shadowing the opening of the 2026 World Cup, which is being co-hosted by Canada and Mexico. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the country would allow in only the “right” people, amid reports of detentions and refusals of entry involving tournament participants. CNBC Indonesia reported that Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a referee from Somalia, was questioned for 11 hours at Miami International Airport and then sent back despite holding an official visa. Iraq captain Aymen Hussein was also said to have been held for nearly seven hours in Chicago, while Senegal's squad underwent multiple layers of screening. The tournament features 48 countries, but US border controls have raised concerns that teams, match officials and international fans will have difficulty entering stadiums and host cities.