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FIFA's World Cup Welcome Promise Proves Empty as Visitors Face U.S. Entry Hurdles
🇳🇱 Netherlands /Sports

FIFA's World Cup Welcome Promise Proves Empty as Visitors Face U.S. Entry Hurdles

From NRC Handelsblad · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • FIFA President Gianni Infantino promised in August that "everyone" would be welcome at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
  • However, reports indicate that foreign visitors, particularly from countries with travel restrictions to the U.S., are facing significant entry difficulties.
  • The Iranian football team's photographer was denied entry, and their allocated tickets were revoked, highlighting a disconnect between FIFA's promises and the reality of U.S. border control.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino assured last August that "everyone" would be welcome at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. He addressed "misunderstandings" about the tournament, stating that while fans would need to go through a visa process, it would be smooth and guarantee entry for all who qualified. Infantino envisioned the tournament as an event that would "unite the world" and bring "teams and countries together."

Everyone is welcome at the World Cup next year in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

— Gianni InfantinoDuring the African continental football association CAF's annual meeting in August.

However, as the World Cup approaches, this promise of hospitality appears to be falling short. Daily reports emerge of foreign visitors being stopped or turned back at U.S. customs, especially those from countries facing entry bans or significant restrictions. Aymen Hussein, an Iraqi national team forward, faced a seven-hour interrogation by U.S. border police before being allowed into the country.

The situation has become particularly acute for the Iranian team. The photographer traveling with the team was denied entry, and the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) announced Tuesday that their allocated match tickets were suddenly invalidated. Iran has a strained political relationship with the U.S., which has worsened since late February. Although the Iranian team relocated its base to Mexico, its group matches are in Los Angeles and Seattle.

It is of course unavoidable that fans will encounter a process that they have to go through for a visa, but that process will go smoothly, and guarantees that everyone who qualifies can come with fans.

— Gianni InfantinoAddressing concerns about visa processes.

The FFIRI stated that ticket sales had already begun when they discovered the tickets were invalid. FIFA told the BBC they are working on a solution. Furthermore, while all Iranian players received visas, several staff members were denied entry, preventing them from accompanying the team to group stage matches. This situation underscores how FIFA's traditional approach of appeasing host nations and their authorities is not yielding the desired results in this instance.

It is good to set that straight.

— Gianni InfantinoResponding to perceived misunderstandings about fan access.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by NRC Handelsblad in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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