‘Making sure right people come to US’: Trump speaks out as security checks and travel restrictions trigger FIFA debate!

As the United States prepares to host the largest edition of the FIFA World Cup, President Donald Trump has said his administration is working to ensure that “the right people” are allowed into the country while maintaining immigration and security standards. His remarks come amid growing discussion over visa policies and travel restrictions ahead of the tournament, which the US will co-host with Canada and Mexico. With millions of supporters expected to travel across North America, attention has shifted beyond football to questions surrounding access and border controls.


Speaking before the tournament’s opening match on Thursday, Trump said the administration is focused on making travel possible for visitors while continuing to enforce security and immigration requirements. The United States will host most of the competition’s 104 matches as part of the joint World Cup bid with Canada and Mexico.

His comments arrive at a time when the country’s immigration approach has attracted criticism from various groups. Human rights organisations and figures connected to football have expressed concerns about visa refusals, travel restrictions and security procedures involving players, officials and supporters expected to attend the event.

Trump maintained that the administration’s priority is to welcome appropriate visitors without compromising established security standards.

Questions surrounding the visa process have also drawn international attention. According to reports by AP, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk warned about issues involving “racial profiling, surveillance and immigration enforcement” even before the expanded 48-team competition begins.


Speaking during a briefing in Geneva, Trk called for a “massive rethink” of immigration policies, particularly in the United States, while expressing hope that these concerns would not overshadow the World Cup itself.

He noted that major sporting events should provide a safe and dignified environment for players, officials, supporters and society as a whole, adding that the scenes witnessed in recent weeks have prompted wider discussion.

Several developments have added to the ongoing debate over tournament preparations.

Iran’s national team was relocated from a training camp in Arizona to neighbouring Mexico, while some Iranian officials were reportedly denied entry visas to the United States.

Somali referee Omar Artan, regarded as one of Africa’s leading match officials, was also refused admission into the country. According to a US official, the denial was linked to alleged associations with suspected members of terror organisations, although no further details or supporting evidence were publicly released.


At the same time, images shared on social media appeared to show a Senegal player being frisked by a security official on an airport tarmac, drawing criticism from some observers.

Fans have also reported travel complications. Supporters from countries including Morocco and Scotland said their travel documents had either been denied or revoked despite already spending significant sums on flights, accommodation and match tickets.

The controversy has also brought renewed attention to FIFA’s own obligations as tournament organiser.

Under the governing body’s bidding requirements for the 2026 World Cup, visa processing is expected to be conducted in a non-discriminatory manner while respecting the immigration and security regulations of the host nation.

Critics argue that some of the reported incidents before the tournament appear difficult to reconcile with those commitments. FIFA has additionally pledged to follow the United Nations’ guiding principles on business and human rights across its events, making the current debate especially significant.

As preparations continue and millions prepare to follow the competition across North America, the focus is likely to remain split between the football on the pitch and the policies determining who will be able to watch it in person. The coming weeks could prove just as important for immigration discussions as they are for the tournament itself.