President Trump wey get restrictive immigration policies don begin affect di 2026 FIFA World Cup wey go happun for United States. Many fans and players from different countries dey denied visa to enter di kontri, even dough dem get tickets and hotel bookings.
One top referee, Omar Artan from Somalia, wey FIFA choose to officiate for di World Cup, no fit enter US. CBP stop am for Miami airport and say dem no go allow am inside. Dem no give clear reason, but Andrew Giuliani, wey dey head White House task force for di World Cup, talk say di denial na for good reasons, but e no explain more.
Another player from Iraq team get wahala at Chicago O’Hare airport, wia dem hold am for hours before dem allow am enter. Dis kind tings dey make people worry about di tournament.
Jules Boykoff, professor wey write book about World Cup, call am “massive paradox.” E say on one hand, di World Cup get more teams dan before, but on di other hand, Trump policies make am look like World Cup of exclusion instead of inclusion.
More dan 40 Moroccan fans wey get tickets and hotel bookings no fit get visa to attend di matches. Dem get support from di Moroccan football association, but still dem dey denied.
Customs and Border Protection talk say all travelers, including athletes, coaches, and staff, go face inspection. Dem say dem dey decide case by case using law enforcement and national security information.
Di State Department don suspend visas for 19 countries, including Iran, Haiti, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal, wey all dey play for di World Cup. Dis move dey cause tension for di football community.
FIFA wey organize di World Cup don separate demsef from di immigration issues. Dem say dem no involve for host country immigration processes, and di host government dey decide who get visa. But some people dey criticize FIFA for dis position.
David Niven, professor from University of Cincinnati, call di situation “self-inflicted wound.” E say wen you put politics inside competition, e no longer be di same competition. E fit affect players, referees, and even fans.
Omar Artan, wey be CAF Men’s Referee of di Year 2025, no fit enter US, but UEFA don appoint am to officiate di UEFA Super Cup for August for Salzburg. Dis show say European football dey support am, even if US no want am.
Di whole matter dey show how immigration policies fit affect international events. Di World Cup wey supposed to bring people together don become source of wahala for many.
