The Dark Side of the World Cup

We are often told that sport has the power to unite people across borders, cultures, and political divides. Yet the opening days of the 2026 FIFA World Cup seem to tell a different story.

Reports indicate that Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States, while only some members of the Iranian delegation had reportedly received visas just days before their scheduled matches (Engineer 2026). Similar restrictions have affected fans from several countries, raising questions about the inclusivity of the World Cup (Huraimi 2026).

Is it inclusive when access is determined by nationality and geopolitics? Can a tournament claim to represent the world when parts of that world struggle to participate?

It seems to me that history did not teach us anything. Before the 1938 World Cup, Nazi Germany annexed Austria in the Anschluss. The Austrian national team was dissolved, and several players were incorporated into the German squad (Schöggl 2024). Political power was used to reshape a sporting competition.

Today, the circumstances are different, but the relationship between politics and sport remains similar. Visa restrictions, travel bans, and diplomatic tensions influence who can enter the host country, who can compete, and who can watch (Engineer 2026). Whether these measures are justified on security grounds or not, they demonstrate how states can exercise power through control of movement.

In the past, political power influenced participation through territorial expansion. Today, it can be exercised through borders, visas, and restrictions on mobility. The US that is proving its power over Iran and to the rest of the world because these restrictions are not limited to one nationality. Who is affected by these restrictions are individuals from countries such as Somalia, Iraq, Haiti, and Iran, suggesting a broader pattern that deserves public attention (Engineer 2026).

The most concerning aspect, however, is the relative silence surrounding them. While millions celebrate the start of the World Cup, the barriers faced by some participants and supporters receive far less attention than the matches.

If sport is truly meant to bring people together, then we should also be willing to ask who is being left out and why.

SOURCE:

Engineer, Anushe. 2026. “Which World Cup teams, players and officials were denied US visas, entry?” Al Jazeera.

Huraimi, Nadia. 2026. “'A World Cup for them not us': Fans' anger at US travel bans and visa restrictions” BBC.

Schöggl, Hans. 2024. “Austrians in the German National Team” RSSSF.