Iranian, African journalists denied US visas for World Cup

A significant number of Iranian and African journalists have been denied U.S. visas, preventing them from covering the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) reported. The association has formally communicated its concerns to FIFA, highlighting the "long-standing and unacceptable problem" of visa denials for accredited colleagues.

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We find ourselves facing a long-standing and unacceptable problem for us journalists: the denial of entry visas to regularly accredited colleagues.

In a letter to FIFA's director of media relations and head of media operations, AIPS president Gianni Merlo stated that numerous journalists, particularly from Iran and Africa, have faced visa rejections. Some who did receive visas were granted only single entry, which poses a problem for those whose teams are scheduled to play matches in both the United States and neighboring Canada or Mexico. Merlo emphasized that these situations are "countless and, I repeat, unacceptable."

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There are many cases: Iranian colleagues, African colleagues, some of whom have been given single entries, so if their team goes to play in Canada or Mexico and they follow it, they can no longer return to the States. The cases are countless and, I repeat, unacceptable.

Merlo argued that allowing journalists to attend the event is crucial for the image of sport and its unifying message, especially in a country like the United States, where freedom of the press is a fundamental principle. He expressed hope that FIFA would exert its influence to secure the necessary visas, noting that the delays have already caused significant financial losses for journalists who booked travel in advance.

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Politicians always say that sport unites and builds bridges between young people in countries in conflict, but in this case, we are going in the opposite direction.

The 48-team FIFA World Cup is set to begin shortly, with matches scheduled across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. The report comes as Iran is participating in the tournament amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions with the U.S. Several African teams, including Ivory Coast and Tunisia, face logistical challenges due to their multi-country schedules, further complicating travel arrangements for their accompanying media.

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We believe it is important to allow colleagues to attend the event and work, because their presence will be crucial to the image of sport and what it represents, especially in a country like the United States of America, where freedom of the press is a must.