What has happened at the #2026WorldCup over the last 48 hours:
• Swiss footballer Embolo's visa was put under review and he was only able to join his team days later.
• Iraqi national team player Aymen Hussein was held for questioning for nearly 7 hours upon entering the United States.
• The Iranian national team spent days dealing with visa procedures at the U.S. Consulate in Türkiye. The U.S. only allowed them entry on match days. Fifteen members of the delegation were denied visas.
• Omar Abdulkadir Artan, named CAF's Best African Referee of 2025, was denied a visa. Despite travelling to the U.S. with a diplomatic passport, he was refused entry and sent back. FIFA announced that he will not be able to officiate at the tournament.
• The South African national team arrived in the United States much later than planned because part of the delegation was not granted visas.
• Members of the Senegal national team staff were forced to remove their shoes and subjected to lengthy searches, sparking accusations of racism.
• The Uzbekistan national team was searched with bomb-sniffing dogs and the footage went viral in international media.
• Some Scottish supporters, despite being eligible to enter the U.S. visa-free under the ESTA programme, had their travel authorisations revoked just days before departure.
• Many supporters who had already bought tickets and booked accommodation had their visa applications rejected, resulting in financial losses.
“Ngati simutha kuyimba simutha basi. This industry is so small to be doing others sh*t. Akuti akutulusa jump, nafe tiyimbe yomweyo,” — Fada Moti’s manager Daniel Wandawanda has hit out at what he describes as copycat behaviour in the industry. 🙆🏽♂️
@slicemagazine@Quentin1738438 Fada Moti walengeza kuti akutulutsa Jump and Madness entertainment yangoti Joe Ikon tiye apa Game Over track as Bonus... Eish no way