Iran ticket dispute, Platini complaint against Infantino, and England update lead World Cup 2026 coverage

The United States’ aggressive border restrictions are casting a long shadow over the 2026 World Cup, with the tournament barely days away from kick-off and already beset by a wave of visa denials that have affected officials, players and supporters. The Somali referee Omar Artan was refused entry at Miami International Airport despite reportedly holding a valid travel visa, prompting a rare public rebuke from his country’s government and a chorus of calls for solidarity from fellow officials. Iran’s football federation has said its entire ticket allocation has been revoked, stranding fans who had made travel plans. The combination of strict immigration enforcement and spiralling costs has led the former England striker Ian Wright to label the event a “World Cup of chaos”, a sentiment echoed by American soccer fans who say they are embarrassed by how the host nation is treating the greatest tournament in the sport.

Immigration and entry restrictions

Unlike previous World Cups, where Fifa succeeded in smoothing over border friction, the 2026 edition has found itself squarely caught in the second Trump administration’s clampdown on entry. In 2014 Brazil passed a law granting free temporary visas to ticket holders; for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, Fan IDs and Hayya cards functioned as makeshift visa documents and also provided free public transport. No such arrangement exists this time. The result has been a steady stream of denials that Wright described as “every few hours it’s another story … fans denied, players denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs”. Wright also highlighted the punishing cost of attendance – “expensive tickets, the most expensive tickets ever, expensive accommodation, transport through the roof” – and expressed particular sympathy for American supporters, saying: “How embarrassed they must be.”

The case of Omar Artan has drawn the most anger. Somalia’s Ministry of Sports expressed “deep regret” that the official – named the Confederation of African Football’s best referee in 2025 – would not take part, reaffirming its “unwavering support” and stating it had “full confidence in his integrity, professionalism, and continued contribution to the advancement of football”. Somalia’s government said it had unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with the United States and Fifa for Artan’s entry, adding that “his international achievements are a source of honour and pride for the Somali people”. Artan himself thanked Fifa and CAF for their support and promised to keep his refereeing levels up as he concentrated on the future. Fifa, in a statement, said it was not involved in host country immigration processes, noting that “a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country”. The snub prompted readers to call for action: Reuven Fletcher emailed to suggest that referees such as Anthony Taylor and Michael Oliver should “decline to officiate until Omar Artan is admitted to the US”, while another recipient proposed that the English or Scottish FA invite Artan to referee a marquee game like the Community Shield as a gesture of solidarity.

Iran’s experience has been similarly blunt. The Islamic Republic’s football federation, the FFIRI, announced that its World Cup ticket allocation had been revoked on the eve of the competition, “despite the fact that many Iranian football fans, relying on the officially announced process, had already made the necessary plans to attend the matches”. In a statement, the federation accused the United States of acting “to obstruct the presence of Iranian supporters at the stadiums hosting the national team’s three group stage matches”, describing the move as “contrary to the spirit governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries”. The development is the latest in a series of diplomatic flashpoints that have marred Iran’s buildup.

Beyond the headline denials, the tournament’s logistics are generating further friction. In Los Angeles, about 2,000 hospitality and food service workers at SoFi Stadium – represented by Unite Here Local 11 – have voted 96% in favour of a strike authorisation, demanding wage increases and protections from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The US’s opening match against Paraguay is scheduled at SoFi Stadium on 12 June. “Without us, they don’t have a stadium,” said Eva Miles, a bartender at the venue since it opened. “Are they going to cook? Are they going to pour those drinks? Are they going to serve these people?” The warning comes as a separate analysis by the carbon accounting platform Greenly estimates that the 2026 World Cup will generate 7.8m metric tonnes of carbon dioxide – more than double the footprint of Qatar 2022 – with 87% of emissions coming from travel across the three-country, 16-city format. Academics and campaigners have called it the most polluting World Cup ever staged.

Kelly Cates, who will present the BBC’s coverage from Salford, captured the mood when she said: “You don’t get the full World Cup experience unless the fans are there, unless you have fans being able to travel in the first place. Not everybody’s going to be able to, either financially or logistically or because of travel bans. So that’s another issue and I think they’re missing out on what makes a World Cup special.” A reader named Chris A, who lives close to Seattle, said he had not considered travelling to games “due to all of this mess”, adding: “I know many superfans of international football who are doing the same.”

Team news and preparations

On the pitch, the tournament’s buildup has been dominated by personal stories and national dramas. The Socceroos’ Mo Touré – a striker drawing comparisons to Mark Viduka – told Guardian Australia that the hype was something he was starting to get used to, though the comparison to Arnold Schwarzenegger was new. “Maybe some people have described me with similar traits, of being always serious or playing hard, but no one’s ever called me a Terminator,” he said from camp in California. Colombia, meanwhile, endured a rollercoaster qualification campaign that included a 2-1 victory against Brazil and revenge over Argentina for the 2024 Copa América final defeat, but also a 1-0 loss in Bolivia that triggered a six-match winless run. Two thrashings of Bolivia and Venezuela ultimately sealed their spot.

France’s Michael Olise continued to demonstrate why he is one of the most watchable players in the world, scoring a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland. Didier Deschamps said the forward was “brimming with confidence” and “so decisive”, adding: “On top of that, as an attacking player he also has a remarkable capacity for hard work. He’s not a very expressive character. He’s rather introverted, but he’s very endearing.” In Brazil, Neymar is “recovering well” from a calf injury that had made him a doubt for the opener against Morocco. The Brazilian Football Confederation said an MRI scan showed he was “making good progress in his treatment” and would continue a fitness programme planned by the team medical staff.

South Africa’s head coach, Hugo Broos, will retire at the end of the tournament. The 74-year-old Belgian, who played at the 1986 World Cup, said: “It was a fantastic event and something I will never forget, 40 years ago when we played our opening game against Mexico. That was when I felt how special the World Cup is. Now I am back here 40 years later, it is amazing it happened.” He admitted he would not struggle for energy on Thursday, despite saying that “sometimes I have to drag myself to my computer just to watch a match again”. Mexico’s manager, Javier Aguirre, has built his side around intensity and quick transitions rather than possession. “At a World Cup, the team that plays the prettiest football does not always win. The team that knows how to compete does,” he said. His tactical model – a flexible 4-3-3 anchored by Edson Álvarez – relies on wide attackers such as Alexis Vega and Roberto Alvarado, with Raúl Jiménez and Armando González alternating as striking outlets.

Elsewhere, Iraq’s journey to their first World Cup in 40 years involved extraordinary sacrifices. René Meulensteen, assistant to coach Graham Arnold, described how staff and players had to travel by car or bus for up to eight hours to Baghdad, then a further 15 hours to Amman, Jordan, before a charter flight to Mexico. “It was madness in Baghdad,” he said. Iraq’s qualification, which included 20 qualifiers and a playoff in Monterrey, was achieved amid a Middle Eastern war that closed airspace. Wolves are re-signing Mexican striker Raúl Jiménez on a two-year deal after he left Fulham as a free agent; Jiménez, part of Mexico’s World Cup squad, was a big hit in his first spell at Molineux but missed nine months after a fractured skull. Divine Mukasa has signed a new contract with Manchester City until 2030, having made six senior appearances and spent time on loan at Leicester. In other club news, Crystal Palace have agreed a deal in principle to make Pierre Sage their new head coach after his side won the Coupe de France and finished as Ligue 1 runners-up with Lens; Falkirk have signed Scotland youth international Ethan Laidlaw from Brentford; and a host of high-profile players are out of contract, with Michael Butler compiling two age-group teams of available talent.

On the women’s side, England’s team is looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat to Spain when they host Ukraine. The Matildas beat Mexico 3-1 in a friendly in Sydney, with goals from Alanna Kennedy, Caitlin Foord and an own goal. Scotland’s training match with Norway was cancelled due to injury concerns in Steve Clarke’s camp. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s veteran striker Edin Dzeko, still churning out the hits at 40, spoke about his enduring ambition, while Djed Spence discussed jaw-breaks, seizing his England opportunity and banter with Arsenal players. New expert guides have been published for Jordan and Portugal, and the tournament will feature ten African teams – double the five that played in 2022.

World Cup memories and off-field turbulence

Away from the immediate chaos, the tournament’s rich history continues to provide perspective. The archive throws up moments such as Haiti’s astonishing shock against Italy in 1974, when an unheralded 22-year-old earning $200 a month broke Dino Zoff’s record after 1,143 minutes of without conceding. Argentina’s quarter-final against England in 1986 – described as “high noon, one blistering Sunday in Mexico City” – remains a defining rivalry. Gary Lineker’s mockery of an American broadcast from 2002 has aged into a fondly recalled joke: “64 min: GOAL Mexico 0 – 2 USA. Two soccer points to no score! Eddie Lewis makes a cross-pitch play from the left zone, finding Landon Donovan alone in the danger area. He top-bodies the sphere into the score bag, and Mexico have a double-negative stat!” The opening game of Germany’s 2006 summer of love is also remembered as one of the most fun tournament openers.

Amid the nostalgia, the news cycle continues to churn. Michel Platini has filed a criminal complaint in French courts against Fifa president Gianni Infantino, alleging that Infantino and others “worked to exclude [Platini] from the race for the presidency of Fifa”. Platini’s lawyer, Olivier Baratelli, confirmed the complaint. Fifa has been contacted for comment. At West Ham, co-owner David Sullivan has resigned as director and co-chair after the BBC and the Times published allegations of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour against him, dating back to the 1980s and 1990s when he owned the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport. The Independent Football Regulator said it is in contact with the club seeking information about Sullivan’s suitability, while the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the allegations “must be treated with the utmost seriousness”. Sullivan has “categorically denied” all claims.

The World Cup mascot debate, meanwhile, has produced memorable phrases such as “the angular football-headed monstrosity” and “soulless, corporate, anthropomorphic animal slop”. David Squires has drawn a heartwarming narrative around the Fifa president. A quiz on tournament knowledge saw one reporter score 22 out of 26. And the most stunning moment from the archive, perhaps, remains Saipan – a story that continues to resonate decades later.