Even before the first whistle blows, the 2026 World Cup—taking place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico—already has winners and losers away from the field. Specifically, at the border, at passport control, in consular offices, and at US airports. Here, amidst denied visas, prolonged checks, and contested entries, a parallel competition is emerging where human rights are at stake.
This World Cup was meant to be a global celebration of soccer in North America. For the first time in history, the tournament is being held in three different countries, a move meant to unite the entire continent and turn the World Cup into an even more inclusive event.
But restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration are impeding those goals. Players, managers, and referees are coming up against some harsh realities even before they take the field. Currently, 39 countries face full or partial US travel bans, and four of them—Haiti, Iran, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire are set to play in the World Cup. So far, incidents involving US entry for participants from Iran, Iraq, and Somalia are fueling controversy and leading to questions about FIFA’s ability to hold a tournament with equal access for all participants.
Human rights organizations have already expressed concern about the impact of immigration policies and strengthened controls in host countries, warning that the tournament also risks becoming a test case when it comes to upholding fundamental freedoms.
The most emblematic of the US immigration issues to surface so far have involved Iran. Following months of conflict and geopolitical tensions between Washington, DC, and Tehran, the country’s national team faces limited movement and scrutiny during its time traveling to US stadiums for matches.
While the Iranian team obtained the necessary visas for its players, the conditions were particularly restrictive. According to the Iranian ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, members of the team will be allowed to enter the US only on the day of the matches, with an obligation to leave the country immediately after the final whistle.
This condition for participation forced the Iranian federation to relocate its training camp to Tijuana, Mexico, instead of the initially planned venue in Tucson, Arizona. The national team will then only be able to cross the border to play the group matches, returning immediately to Mexican territory when the games are over.
The situation is made even more complex by the fact that not all members of the delegation have been granted entry clearance. Fifteen federal officials and staff members appear to be still waiting for visas, while others have reportedly already been denied.
If the problem for Iran begins even before entry into the US, for Iraq, the difficulties start after landing.
Aymen Hussein, the iconic face of the Iraqi national team and the striker who was instrumental in helping the team qualify for the World Cup, was detained at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and interrogated for about seven hours. During the screening, he was subjected to additional scrutiny before being given the green light to enter the country.
The episode has provoked strong reactions in Iraq. Hussein himself has publicly expressed disappointment, wondering why the US chose to host a World Cup if the attitude toward many foreign nationals is so hostile.
Even more problematic is the case of Talal Salah, official photographer for the Iraqi national team. After about 10 hours spent at Chicago airport checkpoints, US authorities denied him entry. US Customs and Border Protection confirmed that Salah was denied admission into the country after being subjected to additional screening. Such episodes have contributed to fears that the extraordinary checks are affecting delegations from Arab or Muslim countries.
