Germany's World Cup Squad Faces Strict Security Scrutiny in U.S.

The German national football team experienced unusually stringent security checks at a U.S. airport as they prepared to travel to Toronto, Canada, for their second group stage match in the 2026 World Cup.

Videos circulating on social media captured members of the German squad undergoing personal inspections directly on the tarmac at Winston-Salem, North Carolina, their training base. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and other players were observed waiting in line to comply with the airport security procedures before boarding their flight.

The thorough inspections, which also included baggage checks, appeared to surprise some of the players. These measures are reportedly part of the security protocols implemented within the United States for the tournament and have affected other participating national teams as well, such as Senegal and Iran.

This incident adds to a series of security and immigration-related events that have occurred during the World Cup, including the widely reported case of a Somali referee being denied entry and subsequently deported from the country.