The United States government has defended its decision to deny entry to a Somali referee and several members of Iran’s support staff ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying the actions were necessary to safeguard the tournament’s integrity and security.
Speaking at an event organised by the Atlantic Council in Washington on Tuesday, Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, said visa restrictions had only affected a small number of officials and not players or coaches.
According to Giuliani, 35 national teams have already entered the United States, with no player or coach denied a visa.
“We’ve had 35 teams that have come into the United States. No players, no coaches have been denied,” he said, adding that some officials were refused entry for what he described as legitimate security reasons.
He stressed that authorities were working to prevent individuals with questionable backgrounds from entering the country under the cover of participating in the World Cup.
Giuliani made the remarks while addressing concerns over the denial of entry to Somali referee Omar Artan, who was turned back at Miami International Airport. Artan, named the Confederation of African Football’s Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025, had been on course to become the first Somali official to officiate at a FIFA World Cup.
While declining to provide specific details, Giuliani maintained that the decision was justified.
The development comes as Somalia remains among countries affected by travel restrictions introduced under the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump as part of broader immigration policies.
Iran has also faced challenges ahead of the tournament. The country, which is scheduled to play all three of its group-stage matches in the United States, recently moved its training base to Mexico due to ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran.
On Tuesday, the Iranian Football Federation announced that its allocation of supporter tickets had been revoked and that some members of its support team had been denied visas.
Despite the restrictions, Giuliani said all members of Iran’s coaching staff would be allowed entry into the United States. However, he noted that certain Iranian officials would not be admitted, citing undisclosed security concerns.
He also suggested that some individuals seeking entry under coaching credentials may not actually be serving in coaching roles.
Giuliani said the U.S. government remains committed to ensuring fairness for all participating nations while preventing anyone linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from entering the country.
Despite the controversy surrounding visa approvals, he stated that security agencies currently see no credible threats to the World Cup. He added that intelligence and security efforts have been significantly strengthened and will remain in place through the tournament, which concludes on July 19.