Which World Cup teams, players and officials were denied US visas, entry?
Key takeaways
- Top Somali referee Omar Artan is the latest victim of stringent US travel policies after the Iranian squad’s visas were delayed.
- The censure of US President Donald Trump’s administration grew after top Somali football referee Omar Artan, who was set to officiate in World Cup games, was denied entry into the country this week.
- Noor said that while these debates are “independent” of football, they inevitably become relevant when a country hosts one of the world’s largest international gatherings.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Top Somali referee Omar Artan is the latest victim of stringent US travel policies after the Iranian squad’s visas were delayed.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Iraq's forward Aymen Hussein was held up in Chicago upon his arrival in the US [File: Thanassis Stavrakis/AP]By Anushe Engineer Published On 11 Jun 202611 Jun 2026The United States government has faced sharp criticism from immigration and human rights experts due to the ongoing visa-related complications and entry denials for athletes and officials participating in the FIFA World Cup.
The censure of US President Donald Trump’s administration grew after top Somali football referee Omar Artan, who was set to officiate in World Cup games, was denied entry into the country this week.