What Happened
Lengthy Questioning And Entry Denials Spark Concerns
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway, US airport border screening is drawing fresh scrutiny after players, officials, and support staff faced lengthy questioning or entry denials while traveling for the tournament. Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was questioned for nearly seven hours, while national team photographer Talal Salah was held for over 10 hours and ultimately denied entry. Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was also denied entry despite holding a valid visa. The incidents have raised concerns about US border processing and its potential impact on the tournament. The developments were first reported by AeroTime.