U.S. immigration policies block World Cup referees, staff, and fans from entering the country
By
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán
If you only eat one bagel today, this is the bagel.
Summary
President Trump's restrictive immigration policies are already affecting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with a Somali referee and an Iraqi team staff member denied entry at U.S. airports, and dozens of fans from countries like Morocco denied travel visas despite holding tickets. The article highlights the paradox of the U.S. hosting a global sporting event while enforcing strict immigration measures, with experts and critics pointing to the chilling effect on participants and spectators from Muslim-majority and other nations.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledI view the 2026 World Cup as a massive paradox
A FIFA referee from Somalia was turned away
On one hand...
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