TheHigh Stakes of an Enlarged, Politicised World Cup

In 2017, during President Trump’s first term, FIFA President Gianni Infantino warned that a U.S. travel ban on citizens from six majority‑Muslim nations conflicted with tournament regulations and could jeopardize a bid to host the 2026 World Cup.

“It is clear that for any FIFA competition, teams, their supporters, and officials must be able to travel to the host nation; without that access, the World Cup cannot take place,” he stated.

However, due to immigration policies enacted during Trump’s second term, fans from four participating nations—Iran, Haiti, Senegal, and Ivory Coast—have encountered full or partial travel bans, as the White House cites security concerns.

BBC analysis of travel data indicates that fans from over a quarter of the 48 competing nations are subject to travel bans, stricter restrictions, or high visa rejection rates.

Just last month, travelers from Algeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, and Tunisia received exemptions from the $15,000 (£11,000) visa deposit requirement.

Over the weekend, the International Sports Press Association highlighted the longstanding, unacceptable issue of visa denials for accredited journalists.

On Monday, FIFA announced that Omar Artan, slated to become the first Somali referee at the World Cup, was removed from the officials list after being denied entry to the United States; no reason was provided, though Somalia appears on the Trump administration’s travel ban list.

“This tournament poses risks for players, fans, and officials—if they can even enter the country,” said Craig Foster, former Australian Socceroos captain turned human‑rights advocate.

For a sport that has publicly championed its human‑rights commitments for a decade, this is nothing short of disgraceful.

This should dispel the lingering notion that politics and sport are separate. In modern sport, this World Cup is profoundly politicised.

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