Iraqi footballer Aymen Hussein issued a statement after being detained and questioned for seven hours upon entering the United States:
“If America is so hostile towards foreign nationals, why is it hosting the #2026WorldCup?”
No country should be allowed to host the World Cup while imposing discriminatory rules on qualified and participating teams.
This ought to be a very basic requirement.
Iran’s World Cup squad has been notified they must enter and leave US soil on the same day of their matches played in America, says Tehran’s ambassador to Mexico.
🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/lBTjnhOsT3
Even Hitler's Germany did not prevent athletes and officials from entering the country to take part in the 1936 Olympics.
This is pristine racism and @FIFAcom stands disgraced for allowing Trump to disfigure the beautiful game in this way.