World Cup Visa Problems Create Issues for Players and Fans

The 2026 World Cup started in the United States on Friday, but many players and fans are having trouble getting into the country. President Trump's tough immigration rules are causing visa problems and airport delays for people from around the world. More than two dozen World Cup players, staff, and officials have had trouble entering the U.S. The problems are making it hard for America to be a good host for the world's biggest soccer tournament.

President Trump wanted the World Cup to show off America's beauty and greatness to visitors from other countries. He hoped the tournament would bring in lots of tourists and money. But instead of celebrating, many people are dealing with visa denials and long waits at airports. Some fans spent thousands of dollars on tickets, flights, and hotels only to be told they couldn't come to America.

One of the biggest problems happened to Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a soccer referee from Somalia. He was supposed to make history as the first referee from his country to work at a World Cup. When he arrived at the Miami airport, U.S. officials questioned him for more than 10 hours. They put him in a holding cell and then sent him back home.

The Trump administration tried to make things easier for World Cup visitors by creating a special visa system. However, Trump's strict immigration policies have scared away many international travelers. Several European countries warned their citizens about traveling to the U.S. after some people were detained at borders. Hotels in World Cup cities are seeing fewer bookings than expected because of these concerns.