With just days to the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA is facing growing criticism over its assurances of seamless travel and access for players, officials and fans, following a series of visa, border and ticketing controversies.
The latest incident involves Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who has been ruled out of the tournament after being denied entry into the United States despite being selected among FIFA’s official match referees.
In a statement released on Monday, FIFA confirmed that Artan would no longer participate in the competition or its preparatory activities.
According to FIFA, the world football governing body has no authority over immigration decisions made by host nations and was informed that Artan’s status would not be altered.
Artan was set to make history as the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup finals. Reports indicate that he arrived at Miami International Airport on June 6 from Istanbul, Turkey, carrying a valid visa and a diplomatic passport issued with support from the Somali Embassy. However, U.S. border officials reportedly denied him entry during routine screening procedures and returned him to Turkey, where he currently remains.
The decision has sparked outrage in Somalia. The country’s Ministry of Youth and Sports described the development as a setback for the principles of merit, fairness and equal opportunity that football seeks to promote.
The controversy has also revived attention on comments made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino in August 2025, when he dismissed concerns over possible travel restrictions ahead of the World Cup.
Speaking in Nairobi following discussions with the Confederation of African Football, Infantino assured stakeholders that all qualified teams, officials and supporters would be welcomed in the three host nations — United States, Canada and Mexico. He maintained that visa procedures would be handled smoothly and that cooperation with governments would ensure successful travel arrangements.
However, Artan’s case is only one of several issues to emerge before kickoff.
Swiss forward Breel Embolo reportedly faced delays after his Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application was placed under administrative review, affecting his arrival with the Swiss national team.
Meanwhile, the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced that Iran’s official ticket allocation had been withdrawn, leaving thousands of supporters uncertain about access to matches, including the team’s opening fixture against New Zealand in Los Angeles.
Iran’s national team has also encountered travel challenges after reports that U.S. authorities denied visas to several members of its delegation. As a result, the team established its training camp in Tijuana, Mexico, and plans to cross into the United States only on matchdays.
The growing number of disputes has triggered wider debate about the responsibilities of host nations during major FIFA tournaments.
Drawing comparisons with the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a South African journalist noted that the country enacted special legislation to fulfill FIFA hosting requirements. These measures included temporary visa and accreditation arrangements designed to facilitate entry for players, officials, media representatives and supporters.
According to the journalist, similar legal frameworks were implemented by previous World Cup hosts, including South Korea and Japan in 2002, Germany in 2006, Brazil in 2014, Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.
With the tournament scheduled to begin on June 11, FIFA has yet to provide a fresh response addressing how the recent visa and entry disputes align with earlier promises of smooth access for all accredited participants and supporters.
As scrutiny intensifies, questions remain over whether the travel and immigration challenges could overshadow preparations for football’s biggest global event.
