U.S. immigration policies impact World Cup officials entering the country

NPR • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 9, 2026, 7:46 PM

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

U.S. immigration policies impact World Cup officials entering the country

Summary

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, heightened immigration scrutiny has affected match officials and team staff attempting to enter the United States. A referee from Somalia was denied entry, alongside a member of an Iraqi team. These denials underscore the ongoing challenges posed by restrictive immigration policies during this global tournament. The World Cup begins later this week, raising concerns about the implications of these barriers for international participation.

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Key Details

•World Cup starts later this week in the U.S.
•Somali referee turned away at U.S. immigration.
•An Iraqi team staff member also denied entry.
•Heightened scrutiny reflects broader immigration policies.
•Concerns rise over international participation challenges.

Latest Updates

7:46 PMNPR — A warm World Cup welcome? U.S. immigration policies have chilling effect - NPR

What they're saying

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As the World Cup begins later this week, match officials and team members have faced enhanced immigration scrutiny when trying to enter the United States. A FIFA referee from Somalia was turned away.
— NPR

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