Few World Cup players referred for secondary questioning at U.S. entry

A handful of World Cup players were pulled into secondary questioning at U.S. entry, a sign that the border operation around the tournament was already running tightly even as officials tried to project a smooth welcome. Andrew Giuliani, the White House task force executive director, said no players had been blocked from entering the country.

Giuliani said 35 teams had already come into the United States, with the tournament still set to bring 48 national teams across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The U.S. portion of the event will include 78 matches in 11 host cities, a scale that puts every delay, review and entry decision under a brighter light than a normal sports event.

The scrutiny has not stopped with players. U.S. officials defended the denial of entry to Somali referee Omar Artan and to some support staff for the Iranian team, underscoring how immigration checks can reach into the personnel who make the tournament function, not just the athletes on the field.

For fans and teams, the policy line matters because the government has paired tougher screening with a faster visa path for some ticket holders. FIFA’s priority appointment system gives certain World Cup ticket buyers a chance to interview for a B1/B2 visa before the tournament, but the State Department says that does not guarantee approval and that every applicant still must clear screening.

As the World Cup moves closer, the question is no longer whether the United States can process arrivals, but how often heightened screening will surface and who will feel its effects first.