FIFA, politics, and the future of soccer (opens original article in a new tab)

The FIFA World Cup 2026 faces immigration and geopolitical challenges as U.S. policies impact participants and teams.

• Somali referee Omar Artan was sent back to Turkey due to U.S. immigration policy claims of terrorist contact
• Iranian team cannot stay in the U.S. before or after matches, requiring accommodations in Mexico
• FIFA World Cup 2026 faces immigration and geopolitical challenges