FIFA President Gianni Infantino was challenged by a BBC reporter over U.S. travel restrictions affecting the World Cup, including the case of a Somali referee who was denied entry despite being selected to officiate at the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The exchange happened during a press briefing in Mexico City, a day before the World Cup is set to kick off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
BBC sports editor Dan Roan asked<\/a> whether FIFA had lost some control of its own tournament after several visa and travel issues involving players, officials, journalists and fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Roan cited the case of Omar Abdulkadir Artan<\/a>, a Somali referee who was sent back from Miami International Airport after U.S. officials denied him entry. He also pointed to Iran having to change its training base to Mexico and people from a number of countries being unable to attend the tournament because of travel bans or visa restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou yourself have said in the past how important it is to have freedom of movement at a global event like this,\u201d Roan told Infantino. \u201cAre you embarrassed therefore by what actually has come to pass? And do you have to accept that you\u2019ve lost some control of your own tournament here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Infantino rejected the suggestion that FIFA could dictate immigration decisions to governments, saying the organization was working behind the scenes but had no authority over police forces or border agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWould you find it normal that FIFA would dictate to the British government who to let into the country and who not to let into the country?\u201d Infantino said, referring to the possibility of a future Women\u2019s World Cup in the United Kingdom. \u201cMaybe you find it normal. I would not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Infantino said security decisions ultimately remain with governments, even when they affect a global sporting event. He said it was not easy to process and vet hundreds of thousands of accredited people, most of them coming from outside the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSecurity goes above everything,\u201d Infantino said. \u201cYou need to respect the decisions which are taken.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FIFA president also defended his earlier remarks that people should \u201cchill\u201d and \u201crelax,\u201d saying he did not mean that FIFA would do nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen I say to chill, I don\u2019t mean to chill and do nothing,\u201d he said. \u201cI mean to trust us that we are working behind the scenes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere are things we can know, things we cannot know, things we are told, things we are not told,\u201d Infantino said. \u201cWe always try to make the situation as positive as possible and to find solutions. Sometimes we manage, other times not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Infantino also said it was already significant that Iran was able to play in the United States during the tournament. \u201cI think it has already been successful to bring Iran to play in America,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t know who would have managed to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Artan, who was named referee of the year in 2025 by the Confederation of African Football, told the New York Times yesterday that he had a visa, FIFA documents and proof of his refereeing career when he arrived in Miami from Istanbul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Artan was denied entry after officers determined he was inadmissible because of vetting concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BBC reporter to Gianni Infantino:
Are you embarrassed by what\u2019s happening at this World Cup, and have you lost control of the tournament?pic.twitter.com\/0kxPuBXYE4<\/a><\/p>— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 10, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>