List of Everyone Denied Entry to the U.S. Ahead of the World Cup So Far
The 2026 World Cup kicked off this week, hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico-but tightened U.S. immigration rules under President Donald Trump have already kept some team officials, staff and supporters from reaching the tournament.
From a Somali referee, to members of Iran’s team staff, and fans from several countries, a number of would-be attendees have been denied entry ahead of the highly anticipated soccer tournament.
Omar Artan: Somali referee
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was named Referee of the Year in 2025 by the Confederation of African Football, was denied entry to the U.S. after arriving in Miami ahead of the World Cup.
Artan had been one of 52 referees appointed by FIFA for the tournament.
Despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single entry U.S. visa, he was detained and questioned by immigration officials at Miami International Airport for around 11 hours before being refused entry.
Customs and Border Protection told the New York Times in a statement that Artan was denied entry due to “vetting concerns.”
He would have been the first Somali referee to officiate a World Cup match.
Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by Trump.
Iran Team
The 2026 World Cup marks the first time in its history that a host nation is at war with a participating country, following the outbreak of hostilities with Iran in February.
Several members of the Iran football team’s wider delegation, including “key managerial and administrative members,” were denied U.S. visas ahead of the tournament, according to the Iranian football federation.
Iran’s players were granted visas just 10 days before their first match, but will operate under tight travel arrangements, entering the U.S. the day before their matches and then returning to their base in Tijuana, Mexico.
Trump previously said that he did not believe it was appropriate for Iran’s team to stay in the U.S. “for their own life and safety.”
Talal Salah: Iraq team photographer
The Iraq national team’s photographer Talal Salah was denied entry into the U.S. after being held for more than 10 hours and having his phone inspected upon arrival at Chicago’s O’Hare airport, a source close to the team told The Guardian.
Iraq’s key striker, Aymen Hussein, was also questioned at the airport for nearly seven hours and had his phone searched, before ultimately being permitted entry, according to the same source, who works for the Iraqi Olympic Committee.
Scottish fans
Some fans now face missing the tournament altogether as they wait for the issue to be resolved, while others are scrambling to apply for visas-a process that can take weeks, Scottish paper The Daily Record reported.
UK citizens traveling to the United States for stays of up to 90 days without a visa must apply for approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
Trump said in a White House briefing on Wednesday that the U.S. was working on the issue “to make sure the right people come into our country.”
Fans From Banned and Restricted Countries
Fans from around the world also face sharply reduced chances of entering the U.S. under expanded immigration restrictions introduced during Trump’s second term.
A sweeping U.S. travel framework fully or partially restricts entry for nationals of 39 countries, while visa processing has been paused or heavily limited in a further 75 countries, significantly reducing the number of people able to obtain entry visas.
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This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 11:50 AM.