US task force created to scrutinize World Cup visitors, players

CHICAGO: A task force has been created to provide heightened security and scrutiny of fans and players who enter the US for the FIFA World Cup.

Customs and Border Protection detained Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein at O’Hare International Airport for seven hours on Saturday, eventually allowing him to enter the US for an exhibition game.

But Iraqi photographer Talal Salah, who was questioned for 10 hours, was denied entry to cover his country’s national team.

“We coordinate efforts to provide a seamless and secure experience for all travelers and participants of the World Cup,” said Casey Durst, executive assistant commissioner of CBP’s operations support.

“To achieve unified command and rapid response throughout the tournament, we established the CBP World Cup Task Force — a structure that coordinates security operations, reports activities, and deploys specialized capabilities across all FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities.”