GhanaWeb Feature by Benjamin Sackey

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, has been rocked by numerous controversies that have generated negative buzz around the competition, which runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Some of the contentious issues include football officials being denied entry into the United States, fans facing similar challenges, and outrage over exorbitant ticket prices.

These developments have infuriated many people worldwide, including non-football fans, who believe such actions undermine the spirit of the sport and its biggest tournament.

2026 World Cup: Africa’s top referee Omar Abdulkadir denied entry into the United States

The occurrences have raised a lingering question: between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and US President Donald Trump, who makes the final decisions regarding World Cup matters?

Somalian Referee Denied Entry to the US

The Trump administration disclosed that top Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry into the country to officiate at the 2026 World Cup due to alleged links to terrorism.

Artan, who had previously overcome visa complications after a wave of online support, finally made the journey to the United States. However, upon arrival, immigration authorities denied him entry and sent him back to Turkey.

Iran Fans’ World Cup Ticket Withdrawal

Iranian fans had their tickets withdrawn amid ongoing tensions surrounding Iran’s participation in the World Cup, following regional conflict triggered by US and Israeli airstrikes earlier this year.

These tensions also disrupted the team’s preparations, forcing the federation to relocate its base camp from Arizona to Mexico due to uncertainty over US visa approvals.

Although all Iranian players were eventually granted visas, several members of the backroom staff reportedly remain without clearance to enter the United States.

Fan’s Ticket Revoked

A Scottish football fan revealed that he discovered just an hour before flying to the US that his travel permit had been revoked.

Michael Wright had planned a dream 30th birthday trip with his brother, with tickets for Scotland’s group stage games against Haiti and Morocco. However, his visa status shifted from “approved” to “pending” and finally to “travel not authorized,” leaving him unable to travel.

Ticket Prices

The first open sale of tickets for the 2026 World Cup revealed that FIFA is charging up to $10,990 (£8,333) for entry to the final, making it the most expensive general admission ticket in football history.

In its World Cup bid book, the US, Canada, and Mexico had stated that tickets to the final would cost a maximum of $1,550 (£1,174). By December, tickets for supporters’ clubs were listed at $8,680 (£6,581), and prices rose again during the final sale period.

The Decision Factor

The aforementioned decisions highlight the division of authority: some are influenced by President Trump’s administration, while others fall under Infantino’s FIFA.

Due to the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US, the American government has tightened immigration policies to prevent potential risks during the tournament. As a result, the Trump administration decides who is allowed entry into the country, prioritizing national security.

On the other hand, FIFA cannot influence US government's decisions regarding visas and immigration, despite awarding hosting rights.

However, FIFA controls football-related aspects of the tournament, such as ticket pricing, which they argue will generate revenue for participating teams.

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