{"id":13673,"date":"2026-06-11T14:22:54","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T07:22:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/?p=13673"},"modified":"2026-06-11T14:22:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T07:22:57","slug":"referees-athletes-fans-how-the-us-border-crackdowns-are-tarnishing-the-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/referees-athletes-fans-how-the-us-border-crackdowns-are-tarnishing-the-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Referees, athletes, fans: how the US border crackdowns are tarnishing the World\u00a0Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This was supposed to be the most spectacular FIFA men\u2019s World Cup in history. There are more national teams (48), more host countries (three) and more matches (104) than ever before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For 39 glorious days, billions of people around the world will be glued to their screens watching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIFA has estimated it could result in as much as US$30.5 billion (A$43 billion) in tourist revenue for the United States, Canada and Mexico \u2013 the three host countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet much of the pre-tournament gloss has been eroded by events that have taken place far from the playing fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIFA, the US and human rights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is the first World Cup where FIFA embedded human rights requirements into the bidding and hosting process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem is, 78 of the tournament\u2019s 104 matches are due to be played in the US, where \u2013 according to many critics, including Amnesty International \u2013 xenophobia and performative cruelty have been guiding immigration policy since Donald Trump returned to the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human Rights Watch reported that from January 2025 to March 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 167,000 people around the 11 US cities that will be hosting matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two months ago, Amnesty International and more than 100 local human rights organisations issued an explicit travel warning for fans, players and officials planning to visit the US for the World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visitors were warned about \u201cracial profiling\u201d at the border, intrusive searches, and other violations of \u201cthe United States\u2019 human rights obligations under domestic and international law\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps not surprisingly, a recent survey of 200 host city hotels found tourist bookings were much lower than expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things may be about to get worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Controversies ahead of the World Cup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Africa\u2019s leading referee, Omar Artan from Somalia, was scheduled to officiate at several upcoming World Cup matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite holding a valid passport and visa, Artan was denied entry to the US when he arrived in Miami last Saturday and will now miss the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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