The World Cup is just days away, but increasingly strict immigration restrictions are continuing to disrupt travel plans for football fans – and now, some players too.
Many have recently hit back against organisers in the US after players from the Senegal and Uzbekistan teams were reportedly subjected to ‘humiliating’ security checks ahead of the highly anticipated competition.
According to a report by Metro, teams had to endure intense security screenings after landing at various US airports, including San Antonio, Texas and New York.
Players from the Senegalese team are said to have faced scrupulous bag checks ahead of their first game against France on 16 June.
Meanwhile, Uzbek players, who first play Colombia on 17 June, were met by sniffer dogs and metal detectors, despite having already passed security checks.
Footage posted on social media showed security staff testing footballers’ shoes and scanning them outside.
Reacting to the situation, one X user described the treatment of the Senegal team as ‘straight up humiliating’, adding that it was a ‘disgrace’ and insisting ‘they’d never put white boys through the same.’
Senegal is one of the countries Trump chose to partially restrict last year, making it more difficult for its citizens to get visas to enter the US.
Meanwhile, according to the Guardian, football fans from Uzbekistan are facing visa rejection rates of over 40 percent.
It comes after Somali referee Omar Artan, who was chosen to officiate the World Cup, was turned away at Miami International Airport due to ‘vetting concerns’.
The Senegalese 🇸🇳 delegation gets this treatment on arrival in the USA. Full tarmac searches, shoes off, bags turned inside out like criminals.
This is straight up humiliation and a disgrace. They’d never put white boys through the same.pic.twitter.com/KULjwTsCQI
— World Cup 2026 Daily (@TotalFootball) June 8, 2026
More than a quarter of competing countries have been affected by recent travel bans, tighter regulations or high visa rejection rates.
Iran, which will have its first match against New Zealand on 16 June, was forced to land in Mexico due to an ongoing political dispute between its leader and Donald Trump.
The team will play all three of their matches in the US, but will be made to fly in and out of the country on the day of each match.
In response to the allegations, a US administration official said: “We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences.”
And it’s not just the players struggling to make it onto the pitch. Fans have also been facing challenges in gaining entry to the country.
Julien Kouadio Adonis, a member of the Ivory Coast’s fan association, has criticised the situation and described the bans as a ‘form of segregation that doesn’t dare speak its name’.
“No European country has faced this kind of restriction,” he told the BBC. “Why Africa?”
He later added that football relied on its spectators and that those hosting the tournament should welcome all supporters.
The US will join Canada and Mexico in hosting 48 teams from around the globe to compete for the 2026 World Cup title.
2026 World Cup fixture schedule and UK kick off times
Thursday, 11 June
Group A: Mexico vs South Africa, kick-off 8pm – Mexico City, Mexico
Friday, 12 June
Group A: South Korea vs Czech Republic, kick-off 3am – Zapopan, Mexico
Group B: Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, kick-off 8pm – Toronto, Canada
Saturday, June 13
Group D: USA vs Paraguay, kick-off 2am – Los Angeles, US
Group B: Qatar vs Switzerland, kick-off 8pm – Santa Clara, US
Group C: Brazil vs Morocco, kick-off 11pm – New Jersey, US
Sunday, June 14
Group C: Haiti vs Scotland, kick-off 2am – Foxborough, US
Group D: Australia vs Turkey, kick-off 5am – Vancouver, Canada
Group E: Germany vs Curacao, kick-off 6pm – Houston, US
Group F: Netherlands vs Japan, kick-off 9pm – Arlington, US
Monday, 15 June
Group E: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador, kick-off 12am – Philadelphia, US
Group F: Sweden vs Tunisia, kick-off 3am – Guadalupe, Mexico
Group H: Spain vs Cape Verde, kick-off 5pm – Atlanta, US
Group G: Belgium vs Egypt, kick-off 8pm – Seattle, US
Group H: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay, kick-off 11pm – Miami, US
Tuesday, 16 June
Group G: Iran vs New Zealand, kick-off 2am – Los Angeles, US
Group I: France vs Senegal, kick-off 8pm – New Jersey, US
Group I: Iraq vs Norway, kick-off 11pm – Foxborough, US
Wednesday, 17 June
Group J: Argentina vs Algeria, kick-off 2am – Kansas City, US
Group J: Austria vs Jordan, kick-off 5am – Santa Clara, US
Group K: Portugal vs DR Congo, kick-off 6pm – Houston, US
Group L: England vs Croatia, kick-off 9pm – Arlington, US
Thursday, 18 June
Group L: Ghana vs Panama, kick-off 12am – Toronto, Canada
Group K: Uzbekistan vs Colombia, kick-off 3am – Mexico City, Mexico
Group A: Czech Republic vs South Africa, kick-off 5pm – Atlanta, US
Group B: Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, kick-off 8pm – Los Angeles, US
Group B: Canada vs Qatar, kick-off 11pm – Vancouver, Canada
Friday, 19 June
Group A: Mexico vs South Korea, kick-off 2am – Zapopan, Mexico
Group D: USA vs Australia, kick-off 8pm – Seattle, US
Group C: Scotland vs Morocco, kick-off 11pm – Foxborough, US
Saturday, 20 June
Group C: Brazil vs Haiti, kick-off 1.30am – Philadelphia, US
Group D: Turkey vs Paraguay, kick-off 4am – Santa Clara, US
Group A: Netherlands vs Sweden, kick-off 6pm – Houston, US
Group E: Germany vs Ivory Coast, kick-off 9pm – Toronto, Canada
Sunday, 21 June
Group E: Ecuador vs Curacao, kick-off 1am – Kansas City, US
Group F: Tunisia vs Japan, kick-off 5am – Guadalupe, Mexico
Group H: Spain vs Saudi Arabia, kick-off 5pm – Atlanta, US
Group G: Belgium vs Iran, kick-off 8pm – Los Angeles, US
Group H: Uruguay vs Cape Verde, kick-off 11pm – Miami, US
Monday, 22 June
Group G: New Zealand vs Egypt, kick-off 2am – Vancouver, Canada
Group J: Argentina vs Austria, kick-off 6pm – Arlington, US
Group I: France vs Iraq, kick-off 10pm – Philadelphia, US
Tuesday, 23 June
Group I: Norway vs Senegal, kick-off 1am – Toronto, Canada