Football ‘would not exist without immigrants,’ New York mayor says ahead of World Cup

Football legend Ian Wright criticised the United States on Tuesday for mismanaging the start of the FIFA World Cup, with several controversies already piled up even before the event’s beginning.

In a video posted on social media platform TikTok, he called it the “World Cup of chaos” and questioned whether the US authorities were acting in a manner befitting the host.

“Every few hours, it’s another story, another story about fans denied, players denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs?

“I’m laughing, but it’s not funny. It’s actually not funny. Something has to be said,” he said.

His criticism is among many with several people calling out the events that have transpired.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Monday that football “would not exist without immigrants”, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, scheduled to kick off on Thursday.

“Soccer would not exist without immigrants. Immigrants play and coach the game, work in the stadiums, fill the stands, and make celebrations like the World Cup possible,” Mamdani wrote on X.

Mamdani stressed that six of the players on the US men’s national team were immigrants.

His remarks came as FIFA confirmed on Monday that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry to the US over the weekend and will no longer be able to participate in the tournament.

Bloomberg reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump has drawn up a plan to surge US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel to New York City over the president’s migrant crackdown.

A general view of MetLife Stadium, temporarily renamed New York New Jersey Stadium, which will host 8 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, including the World Cup Final, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, US, June 1, 2026. REUTERS

“We will not allow ICE or anyone else to sow fear in our communities — especially at this moment,” Mamdani wrote on X. “As the world comes to our city, we will stand proudly with our immigrant neighbours and reject these attacks for what they are: an attempt to divide us.”

Senior US politician Hillary Clinton said the US “shouldn’t be flippantly barring officials” from entering the country to do their jobs as the host of the World Cup.

“It’s terribly backward. It’s also counterproductive. Global sports competitions should improve international exchange and relations, not the reverse.”

Human rights organisation Amnesty International also said that all fans, players, referees, journalists and families should be welcomed, not shut out by the Trump administration’s “discriminatory visa restrictions targeting people from certain countries or be arbitrarily searched or detained in US airports”.

 Somali referee barred from World Cup after being denied US entry

One referee, journalists from various countries, supporting staff and fans were barred from US entry during the FIFA World Cup. Immigration staff are also sidelining officials and referees, and shutting out thousands of fans.

Artan was travelling from Istanbul to Miami on Saturday to attend a FIFA seminar for match officials ahead of the World Cup. However, he was denied entry upon arrival in the US and was returned to Istanbul on Sunday.

On Monday, a FIFA spokesperson said: “FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States.

“FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present.

“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”

Separately, US Customs and Border Protection (CPB) told The Athletic that “following inspection, the traveller, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.”

“All travellers seeking entry into the United States, including athletes, coaches, and staff, are subject to CBP inspection and vetting. Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection. CBP officers have the authority to question travellers, conduct inspections, and determine admissibility consistent with US law.”

Artan was recently named Africa’s Best Referee for 2025 at the CAF Awards in Rabat, Morocco, organised by the Confederation of African Football. He was set to become the first Somali referee selected to officiate at a FIFA World Cup.

A proclamation issued by Trump on June 4, 2025, fully restricts the entry of Somali nationals into the country, stating: “The entry into the United States of nationals of Somalia as immigrants and nonimmigrants is hereby fully suspended.”

Iran’s football association also blamed him for the cancellation of their ticket quota, which is usually 5-8%.

Spanish Moroccan sports journalist Leyla Hamed posted on X that the US denied an 8% ticket quota to the Iranian football team. The quota is usually distributed to the supporters.

Iraqi Striker detained, Moroccan fans denied entry

According to Anadolu News, when Iraqi Striker Aymen Hussein reached Chicago, he was detained for hours by the TSA staff. The team’s photographer was also denied entry to the US. Some 90 Moroccan fans were denied US visas despite their travel history, including participation proofs in the world’s major sports events.

Dropsite News also reported that accredited sports journalists from Iran and Africa were also denied entry to cover the event, which cast a dark shadow over the tournament.

In another incident, the Uzbekistan team faced strict security protocols upon arrival in the field before a friendly warm-up match with the Netherlands.

World Cup 2026 Daily also posted a video of a full-body search of Senegal’s football team members and said that it was a humiliation of the players.