Trump’s border crackdown is wreaking havoc on the World Cup

Even before The first whistle blows, and World Cup 2026— which will take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico — already has winners and losers away from the field. Specifically, at the border, at passport control, at consular offices, and at US airports. Here, amid visa denials, lengthy checks, and contested entry, a parallel competition emerges where human rights are at stake.

This World Cup was supposed to be a global celebration of North American soccer. For the first time in history, the tournament is being held in three different countries, a move aimed at uniting the entire continent and turning the World Cup into a more inclusive event.

But the restrictions imposed President Donald TrumpThe Trump administration is obstructing these goals. Players, managers and referees face some harsh realities before they even take to the field. Currently 39 countries face Complete or partial travel ban to the United States, and four of them – Haiti, Iran, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire – are scheduled to play in the World Cup. So far, incidents involving the US entry of participants from Iran, Iraq, and Somalia have generated controversy and led to questions about FIFA’s ability to organize a tournament in which all participants have equal access.

Human rights organizations They have already expressed concern about the impact of immigration policies and strengthening controls in host countries, warning that the tournament also risks becoming a test case when it comes to upholding basic freedoms.

The most prominent US immigration case to date concerns Iran. After months of conflict and geopolitical tensions between Washington, D.C., and Tehran, the country’s national team faces limited movement and scrutiny during its travel to American stadiums for matches.

While the Iranian national team obtained the necessary visas for its players, the conditions were particularly restrictive. According to the Iranian ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Basandideh, team members will only be allowed to enter the United States on the day of the matches, with an obligation to leave the country immediately after the final whistle.

This participation requirement forced the Iranian Federation to move its training camp to Tijuana, Mexico, instead of the initially planned location in Tucson, Arizona. The national team will then only be able to cross the border to play group matches, and will immediately return to Mexican territory when the matches are over.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that not all members of the delegation were granted entry permit. Fifteen federal officials and employees appear to still be waiting for visas, while others have reportedly already been denied.

If the problem for Iran began even before it entered the United States, then the difficulties for Iraq begin after the landing.

Ayman Hussein, the famous face of the Iraqi national team and a striker who was instrumental in helping the team qualify for the World Cup, was arrested at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and interrogated for nearly seven hours. During the examination, he underwent additional scrutiny before being given the green light to enter the country.

The incident sparked strong reactions in Iraq. Hussein himself has publicly expressed his disappointment, questioning why the United States chose to host the World Cup if the attitude toward many foreign nationals was so hostile.

More problematic is the case of Talal Salah, the official photographer of the Iraqi national team. After spending about 10 hours at checkpoints at Chicago Airport, the American authorities refused him entry. US Customs and Border Protection certain Salah was banned from entering the country after being subjected to additional examinations. Such events have contributed to raising fears that extraordinary inspections would affect delegations from Arab or Islamic countries.