Tag · 9 articles
Ghana's government has filed a court review of Canada's refusal to grant midfielder Thomas Partey a visa, causing him to miss the World Cup opener against Panama. The case will be heard in Ottawa on Wednesday, as Ghana seeks temporary entry for the player.
Somali referee Omar Artan, denied entry to the US for the World Cup, will receive his full tournament fee from Fifa. He was interrogated for 11 hours due to alleged terror links but has since been invited to officiate the Uefa Super Cup.
Four members of Iran's World Cup delegation have won appeals against US visa rejections, but 11 remain barred. The team has moved its base to Mexico amid tensions. The US has revoked Iran's group-stage ticket allocation, citing security concerns.
Scotland supporter Kenny Smith is racing to reach Boston after his US visa was approved on the eve of the World Cup. He missed a connecting flight in Dublin but is due to arrive hours before kick-off against Haiti.
Michael Wright had his US visa revoked while at airport security, an hour before his flight to the World Cup. The visa status changed to 'travel not authorised' without explanation.
The World Cup visa controversy has become the tournament's most telling issue, with FIFA reportedly violating its own rules by not intervening in denials affecting journalists and fans. Critics question whether the event should be held in a host nation that does not see it as a global celebration.
FIFA is breaking its own precedent by allowing the 2026 World Cup to proceed in a host nation facing visa controversies and political tensions, marking the first time such issues have occurred at a modern tournament.
A video piece highlights that no modern World Cup has faced visa challenges like the current tournament, with fans and participants encountering significant obstacles. The piece documents the scale and impact of these unprecedented issues.
Somali referee Omar Artan says he was subjected to an 11-hour immigration interview before being denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, despite holding what he describes as the 'right papers' and 'right visa'.
