Donald Trump said his administration is working to ensure that “the right people” can enter the country during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, amid growing controversies surrounding visa approvals for fans, journalists, and members of foreign delegations.
Trump emphasized that his administration’s priority is to balance welcoming international visitors with security measures and immigration controls. “We’re working very closely to make sure the right people come into our country,” the president told reporters.
In recent days, several cases involving denied visas have drawn attention. Members of the Iranian delegation, journalists from some African and Middle Eastern countries, and even a FIFA referee have reported difficulties entering the United States.
One of the most widely discussed cases involved Somali referee Omar Artan, who, despite being selected by FIFA to officiate at the World Cup, was denied entry by U.S. authorities. The case prompted criticism from sports organizations and human rights groups.
The situation has also affected Iran’s national team. While the players received authorization to travel, some members of the coaching staff and officials from the Iranian football federation had their visa applications rejected. As a result, the team was forced to establish its training base in Mexico and travel to the United States only on match days.
The U.S. government argues that the restrictions are necessary to prevent individuals considered threats to national security from entering the country. White House officials say each application is reviewed individually and that decisions are made according to pre-established security criteria.
The controversies come at a sensitive time for the tournament. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest in FIFA history, featuring 48 national teams and more than 100 matches, and is expected to attract millions of visitors to the host countries.
However, critics argue that immigration restrictions could damage the United States’ image during one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
Reporter on World Cup: Some people are afraid that it’s going to be harder and harder to get visas to come?
Trump: We’re working on very closely to make sure the right people come into our country. pic.twitter.com/LwSg1pDMeU
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 10, 2026
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Photo and video: Public Domain / X @Acyn. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
