Live observatory
We track, as the news breaks, the visa and entry refusals, delays and restrictions hitting fans, staff and players of the year's biggest football event. Verified sources, updated continuously.
Live · Last updated
July 18, 2026
17 items tracked
Host countries of the tournament
LatestBorder czar Tom Homan has promised to send New York "more ICE agents than you've ever seen" for the final, framed as a response to the city's sanctuary rules. ICE confirms it is part of the security operation at MetLife Stadium, without explicitly ruling out arrests on site. City Hall has curbed police cooperation with ICE.
Source · NBC New York
Invited to attend the Spain-Argentina final in New York, former Spain international Joan Capdevila had his ESTA refused. The reason, he says: a match played in Iran roughly a decade ago. Travel to Iran rules out the visa-waiver route and requires applying for a regular US visa instead. With no way to reach New York, he made a public appeal to Donald Trump.
Source · CNews
Michel Kuka Mboladinga, known as 'Lumumba Vea' for standing motionless in tribute to Patrice Lumumba, was denied a US visa and will miss the Leopards' decisive game against Uzbekistan in Atlanta. A federation ambassador, he had followed the previous match from Mexico.
Source · Al Jazeera
Senegal's official photographer, Sidy Talla, was not granted a visa for Canada and could not follow the squad for its match against Iraq (5-0) in Toronto. Stranded in the United States, he still captured the game — by photographing the action on his hotel-room television screen.
Source · Blick
Initially refused entry to Canada before Ivory Coast's match against Germany in Toronto — the Ivorian federation citing 'administrative authorisations' not obtained at that stage — striker Elye Wahi saw his situation evolve favourably: the necessary clearances were eventually granted and he joined up with the Elephants in time. A useful reminder: a travel authorisation gets you on the plane, but admissibility is decided at the border — and a refusal is not always final.
Source · La Presse
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss the Black Stars' opening match against Panama in Toronto after Canada refused his entry visa and a federal court rejected his appeal on 16 June. Canadian authorities cited ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom. He is reported to remain eligible for Ghana's second match.
Source · ESPN
The only Iran player issued a single-entry US visa — while teammates received multiple-entry ones — winger Mehdi Torabi saw it expire after the opening 2-2 draw with New Zealand in Los Angeles. The issue has since been resolved: he was granted a new visa and can feature in the rest of the 2026 football tournament. Iran is based in Tijuana, Mexico, travelling from there to match venues.
Source · ESPN
After making seven saves to hold Spain to a 0-0 draw in Cape Verde's first-ever appearance at this level, goalkeeper Vozinha broke down in tears. His mother could not attend because the US requires Cape Verdean citizens to pay a returnable bond of up to $15,000 on top of standard visa fees, a barrier his family could not overcome.
Source · Gulf News
Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association, said he was denied both a US and a Canadian visa to attend the 2026 football event. Stranded in Mexico City, he watched the opening match there but cannot reach venues on US soil despite being invited as a federation head.
Source · Al Jazeera
Iraq's official team photographer was denied entry onto US soil, leaving the delegation short of part of its coverage — one of several staff cases logged by Al Jazeera among those turned away at the border.
Source · Al JazeeraHit by a US entry ban, the Iranian delegation had to base itself in Mexico and reach match venues from abroad — an unprecedented logistical headache for a qualified team, logged by Al Jazeera among the delegations blocked at US borders.
Source · Al JazeeraAccording to Actu Foot, citing L'Équipe, Ivory Coast supporters expected in the United States were not granted visas and cannot make the trip. Around 500 of them had been hoped for to back the Elephants at the 2026 football event.
Source · @ActuFoot_
Omar Artan, named Africa's best referee in 2025 and set to be the first Somali official at the 2026 football tournament, was deemed inadmissible at Miami airport due to 'vetting concerns.' Back in Mogadishu, thousands celebrated his return. FIFA confirmed it would pay him in full.
Source · NPR
40 out of 42 applicants from a Moroccan fan association were refused US visas without explanation, despite holding match tickets. Financial losses reached up to 20,000 MAD per person. Similar patterns were reported for supporters from Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon and Ivory Coast.
Source · The CanaryOn the Iraqi squad's arrival at Chicago O'Hare, striker Aymen Hussein — whose goal sealed their qualification — was held and questioned for nearly seven hours and had his phone inspected before finally being allowed in. The team's photographer was held for more than ten hours and ultimately denied entry.
Source · L'ÉquipeAccording to a video shared on X by Actu Foot, Morocco international Zakaria El Ouahdi had still not been granted his US visa and could not fly out with the rest of the squad. The Moroccan federation reportedly booked him a flight for the following Saturday to join up with the team at the 2026 football tournament.
Source · @ActuFoot_
Bafana Bafana's charter to Mexico City was grounded for a day after Mexican visas were not issued in time for several players and staff. South Africa's Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie called the situation 'embarrassing and unacceptable' and demanded a full investigation.
Source · Al Jazeera