Iran fans barred and African referee turned away as World Cup entry crisis deepens

Two days before the 2026 World Cup opens in Mexico City, Iran’s football federation has confirmed that its fan ticket allocation has been revoked, while Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was turned away at Miami International Airport — the latest casualties of the strict border restrictions imposed by Donald Trump’s administration on a tournament the United States is co-hosting.

Iran’s Football Federation of the Islamic Republic (FFIRI) said the decision to strip fans of their tickets — just one week before the country’s opening match against New Zealand in Los Angeles — would “sabotage the presence of Iranian fans” and was “contrary to the spirit governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries.” Under Fifa regulations, each nation receives eight per cent of tickets per match allocated to its federation. Iran has two group-stage games in Los Angeles and one in Seattle, and many supporters had already made travel arrangements.

Iranian state media separately reported that 15 officials were denied US visas, while the playing squad, based in Mexico, must reportedly enter and leave the United States on the same day as each of their matches.

Artan’s case has drawn particular attention. One of 52 referees selected for the tournament and widely regarded as among Africa’s top officials, he flew into Miami from Turkey over the weekend only to be detained by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) over unspecified “vetting concerns.” He endured an 11-hour immigration interview before being refused entry.

“I am very, very disappointed,” Artan told the New York Times. “I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream — the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup. I held the right papers and the right visa.”

Fifa distanced itself from the situation, while president Gianni Infantino had previously dismissed concerns about US entry restrictions as the tournament approached. Critics argue the consequences of Iran — a country in conflict with a co-host nation — being drawn into a US-based group were entirely foreseeable.

The list of players, officials, executives, and fans affected by US visa and border issues continues to grow, with the tournament not yet officially under way. As matches on American soil begin, further complications are widely expected.