Iran, Iraq, Senegal, Uzbekistan ensnared in US security web before World Cup

Just days before the opening whistle of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, national teams from Iran, Iraq, Senegal, and Uzbekistan, as well as a FIFA-appointed referee from Somalia, have encountered a series of entry barriers in the United States, ranging from visa denials and hours-long interrogations to security screenings involving police dogs.

The incidents have drawn sharp criticism from the sporting world and sharpened scrutiny of FIFA’s silence as its own tournament preparations have unfolded.

Iran relocates training camp after 13 officials denied visas

Iran’s preparation for the tournament was thrown into disarray after US authorities refused visas to 13 members of its administrative and technical staff, while granting entry to its players, head coach Emir Ghalenoi, and core coaching personnel.

The team, drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, had originally based its training camp in Arizona, but relocated across the border to Tijuana, Mexico, following the delays. Though the squad will travel into the United States for its three group-stage fixtures, the delegation was not granted permission to remain in the country between matches.

Iran’s players #21 Omid Norafkan and #14 Saman Ghoddos celebrate after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asia zone qualifiers group A football match between Iran and Uzbekistan, in Tehran, March 25, 2025. (AFP Photo)

Iraqi star held for seven hours at Chicago airport

Among the most widely reported individual cases was that of Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein, a key figure in a squad set to make the country’s first World Cup appearance since 1986.

Hussein was reportedly detained and questioned for approximately seven hours at Chicago O’Hare International Airport; Iraqi media also reported that his mobile phone was confiscated during the process. Separately, the national team’s official photographer was denied entry into the United States altogether.

The disruptions extended beyond the competing teams. Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a Somali referee selected by FIFA to officiate at the tournament, was denied entry after undergoing screening at Miami International Airport. Artan had been named Referee of the Year for 2025 by the Confederation of African Football and had been poised to become the first Somali referee to work a World Cup, a distinction that now remains out of reach.

Security checks draw attention for Senegal and Uzbekistan

Video footage shared widely on social media showed Senegalese players being subjected to detailed individual security screenings after landing in the United States, before they were permitted to move through the terminal.

The Uzbekistan national team, making its first-ever World Cup appearance, faced similar scenes: delegation members were seen undergoing checks accompanied by police dogs before being allowed to enter a stadium in New York ahead of a friendly match against the Netherlands. Both sets of images circulated rapidly online and sparked broad debate about the conditions being applied to visiting teams.

Throughout the cascade of incidents, FIFA, the governing body responsible for staging the tournament and securing appropriate conditions for all participating nations, has not publicly addressed any of them, a posture that critics say is difficult to reconcile with the organization’s stated commitment to inclusivity and the universal reach of the sport.

June 09, 2026 09:50 PM GMT+03:00