Although FIFA promoted the 2026 World Cup as the most inclusive edition in the tournament’s history, the competition was overshadowed by visa refusals and border detentions, prompting questions about whether football’s greatest global event was genuinely accessible to all.
The Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) warned that the celebrations surrounding the tournament should not divert attention from what it described as unprecedented exclusion, discrimination and abuses of power by the United States authorities away from the global spotlight.
Ahead of the tournament, the human rights organisation had repeatedly raised concerns about US immigration policies, urging FIFA in March to “Keep the World in the World Cup.” Its open letter highlighted forceful detentions carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, as well as reports of poor conditions in detention centres, including inadequate access to food, water and medical treatment, alongside concerns over due process.
The SRA had also warned that new US visa restrictions could prevent supporters of qualified nations from attending the tournament. Those concerns ultimately extended beyond fans. Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir was reportedly detained and questioned by US Customs and Border Protection before being refused entry despite having previously obtained a visa, preventing him from officiating at the tournament.
Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was also reportedly held for several hours before eventually being permitted to enter the country, while a photographer travelling with the Iraqi team was denied entry altogether.
Iran, originally scheduled to play its group-stage matches in the United States, relocated its base to fellow host nation Mexico amid visa restrictions and the continuing conflict between the two countries. Following Iran’s elimination, US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin expressed his satisfaction at their departure, saying during a World Cup security briefing that he was “just glad they’re done, and they’re not coming back.”
Mullin went further, saying he was delighted when the players’ visas could be withdrawn and they were told they could leave US territory. The Iranian Football Federation strongly criticised the comments, arguing that they demonstrated a lack of respect for international law and the responsibilities expected of a country hosting a major global sporting event.
Tensions between the United States and Iran, heightened after the US joined Israel in launching attacks on the country on 28 February, also created difficulties for individuals with previous links to Iran. Former Spain international Joan Capdevila, a member of the country’s 2010 World Cup-winning squad, revealed that his visa application to attend the final against Argentina was initially rejected because he had taken part in an exhibition match involving LaLiga stars in Iran in 2016.
US entry regulations require additional visa procedures for travellers who have previously visited Iran. Capdevila subsequently appealed for assistance and was eventually able to attend the final, although he did not disclose how the issue was resolved.
Not everyone was able to overcome their visa difficulties, despite FIFA receiving assurances from the US State Department that eligible players, officials and supporters from qualified nations would be allowed to attend the tournament. FIFA president Gianni Infantino had previously played down such concerns, declaring that “the world is welcome in America.”
That promise, however, came under scrutiny as the United States suspended visa processing for dozens of countries, while some foreign visitors faced bonds ranging from $5,000 (€4,369) to $15,000 (€13,109) to secure tourist visas. The issue was particularly significant given that the US staged 78 of the tournament’s 104 matches. Infantino, who has maintained close ties with US President Donald Trump, insisted that these policies were determined by the American government rather than FIFA.
As visa problems involving teams and officials emerged at the start of the competition, Infantino reiterated that immigration decisions remained the responsibility of national authorities. He also sought to ease concerns, stressing that FIFA was working to address the various issues surrounding the tournament.
Critics nevertheless argued that FIFA had failed to deliver on its pledge to stage the most inclusive World Cup ever, despite expanding the competition to 48 teams. Infantino, by contrast, described the tournament as a success and maintained that every country should have the opportunity to dream of reaching the World Cup, while continuing to explore the possibility of an even larger competition in the future.
Questions over the tournament’s true diversity remain, with several organisations challenging FIFA’s inclusivity claims. The Sport & Rights Alliance is expected to publish a report examining human rights concerns surrounding the event, including allegations of discriminatory visa refusals.
Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe, said monitoring efforts had found little evidence of ticket holders from Africa and Asia successfully obtaining visas to travel to the United States. He argued that much of the apparent diversity in the stands came instead from established diaspora communities and dual nationals who did not require visas, potentially concealing the difficulties faced by international supporters attempting to attend the tournament.
