The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to open on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is facing growing off-field turbulence as visa delays, entry refusals, and heightened security checks affect several participating nations and officials.
While the expanded 48-team format marks a historic milestone, the lead-up has been defined as much by administrative friction as sporting preparation.
At the center of the controversy is the tension between host-nation security policy and the expectations of a global tournament built on open participation.
Teams from Iran, Iraq, Senegal, and Uzbekistan, along with match officials, have reported significant complications entering the United States.
FIFA has maintained that immigration matters fall under sovereign control of host governments, a stance that has drawn criticism from affected delegations.
