US visa curbs snarl travel for 2026 World Cup fans and officials
What's new: An Iraqi staff member and Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan were blocked or delayed as ticketed fans also struggled to get in.
US immigration restrictions and visa disruptions are complicating travel to the 2026 FIFA World Cup for fans, team staff and match officials. BBC and NPR reported that supporters from more than a quarter of participating countries face bans, suspended visa services or high rejection rates. In Iraq, routine US consular services were halted after the US-Israel war with Iran, leaving fans unable to complete required in-person interviews at home. NPR also reported that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry at Miami International Airport and that an Iraqi team staff member was questioned for hours at Chicago O'Hare, while a team photographer was refused entry. The pressure adds to criticism that US border policy is undercutting a tournament billed as global.