FIFA World Cup 2026 Visa Controversy: The biggest tournament of the world’s most famous sport is going to be held and instead of excitement about it, there is uneasiness and chaos. FIFA World Cup 2026, the biggest sports tournament in America, Mexico and Canada, is scheduled to start on June 11, but controversies related to the situation are emerging every day. The source of controversy is the tournament’s biggest host, the United States, which has not only troubled the Iran football team, its officials and fans with visa policies, but has also barred players, spectators and media persons from many other countries from coming to the tournament.
Fans shocked after Iranian team-officials
The latest development in this matter is the cancellation of tickets received by Iranian spectators. Due to the ongoing political tension and war with Iran, America has already banned the Iranian football team from coming to the country. Due to this, the team will enter America only a few hours before the match and then immediately leave for Mexico, where the Iranian team has made its base, while it has to play all three matches of the group stage in America only. But the people whom Iran’s players will represent will not be present to see it.
The Iran Football Federation issued a statement on June 9 revealing that America had withdrawn the allocation of tickets for their fans for the group stage matches. On behalf of FIFA, 8 percent of the tickets are made available to the federation for the fans of each country participating in the tournament. But the Iranian Federation has alleged that the tickets given to them have been suddenly canceled by America, due to which Iranian spectators will not be able to reach the stadium to support their team. Earlier, America had also rejected the visas of about a dozen support staff, doctors and coaches of the team including Federation President Mehdi Taj at the last moment.
Even the referee did not get entry into America
Not only Iran’s players, officials and fans are becoming victims of this discriminatory policy and behavior of America, but till now a referee has also had to suffer. Omar Artan, the only Somalian selected by FIFA to take charge of several matches in the tournament, has not been granted entry into the US despite having a valid visa. Omar, who was voted Africa’s best referee, was stopped at Miami International Airport. US Border Patrol refused entry based on ‘investigative concerns’ and sent him back. After this, FIFA also made it clear that Artan will no longer be able to participate in this tournament. FIFA also said that it cannot interfere in the visa policies of any country.
At some places they were detained and at some places they were investigated with dogs.
Not only these controversies, but apart from this, many other cases have also come to light, where the teams coming to participate in the tournament and its officials are facing checking like criminals at the airport. In the name of security, players, fans and media persons from many countries are complaining of mental harassment at American airports.
- Iraq football team star player Ayman Hussein was detained and interrogated for about seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. After being released from custody, he also raised the question that if America is so afraid of many countries then why is it hosting the World Cup.
- Similarly, the visa of Swiss midfielder Briel Embolo was also initially rejected, which was later approved after the intervention of Swiss authorities.
- At the same time, the players of Uzbekistan team had to face treatment like criminals at the airport, where the players, support staff and officials were even checked by sniffer dog squad, due to which the players looked very hurt.
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