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What has happened at the #2026WorldCup over the last 48 hours: • Swiss footballer Embolo's visa was put under review and he was only able to join his team days later. • Iraqi national team player Aymen Hussein was held for questioning for nearly 7 hours upon entering the United States. • The Iranian national team spent days dealing with visa procedures at the U.S. Consulate in Türkiye. The U.S. only allowed them entry on match days. Fifteen members of the delegation were denied visas. • Omar Abdulkadir Artan, named CAF's Best African Referee of 2025, was denied a visa. Despite travelling to the U.S. with a diplomatic passport, he was refused entry and sent back. FIFA announced that he will not be able to officiate at the tournament. • The South African national team arrived in the United States much later than planned because part of the delegation was not granted visas. • Members of the Senegal national team staff were forced to remove their shoes and subjected to lengthy searches, sparking accusations of racism. • The Uzbekistan national team was searched with bomb-sniffing dogs and the footage went viral in international media. • Some Scottish supporters, despite being eligible to enter the U.S. visa-free under the ESTA programme, had their travel authorisations revoked just days before departure. • Many supporters who had already bought tickets and booked accommodation had their visa applications rejected, resulting in financial losses.

Africa's Best Referee, Somali Omar Artan, Denied US Entry for World Cup Despite Diplomatic Passport, Sent Back from Miami Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, acclaimed as Africa's best official, has been denied entry to the United States and sent back on a flight to Istanbul, Turkey, upon arrival at Miami International Airport for the 2026 World Cup. Artan, 34, had his travel facilitated by the Somali Embassy in Nairobi, which granted him a diplomatic passport to help with visa issues. He travelled from Kenya through Turkey to Miami before being turned away. No reason has been given for the denial. FIFA had confirmed last week that Artan's visa situation had been "fully resolved and he will now be available to officiate at the FIFA World Cup." Somalia features on President Donald Trump's travel ban list, and he recently called the nation "the worst country in the world" and referred to Somali immigrants in America as "crooks." Artan was named Africa's Best Referee for 2025 at the CAF Awards in November. His denial has sparked outrage among football officials and fans worldwide.