The 2026 FIFA World Cup was expected to be the biggest celebration in football history.
Instead, with the tournament still months away, it has already become embroiled in controversy, as visa complications, stricter border controls, rising travel costs and growing fan frustration threaten to overshadow the build-up.
At the heart of the issue is co-host nation the United States.
In previous World Cups, host countries introduced special measures to ease travel for participants and supporters. Brazil relaxed visa requirements in 2014, while Russia and Qatar implemented fan pass systems that doubled as travel permits.
This time, however, the situation has proven far more complicated.
Under the administration of US President Donald Trump, tougher immigration policies and border restrictions have created challenges for players, officials, referees and supporters heading to the tournament.
Somali Referee Denied Entry
One of the most notable cases involves Omar Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup.
Artan, one of 52 referees selected for the tournament, was reportedly denied entry upon arriving in Miami, preventing him from participating in pre-tournament preparations.
FIFA stated that Artan would be “unable to train and officiate” at the event but stressed that immigration decisions fall under the authority of the host nation.
Iran Faces Visa and Travel Challenges
Iran have also found themselves caught in a growing diplomatic dispute.
According to Iranian media reports, at least 15 officials and support staff linked to the national team were denied visas by US authorities.
Iranian football officials have additionally accused organisers of limiting ticket allocations for their supporters, claiming the move could reduce the presence of Iranian fans during the tournament.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei expressed his disappointment over the situation.
“We are upset about this behaviour,” he said.
“It has certainly never happened before.”
The complications have reportedly forced Iran to establish their training base in Tijuana, with players expected to travel into the United States only for matches before returning to Mexico afterwards.
As the countdown to the World Cup continues, concerns are growing that political and immigration issues could become one of the tournament’s defining storylines, rather than the football itself.
