A Somali referee turned away at the entrance to the United States, Iranian spectators possibly deprived of tickets... American immigration policy is causing major tensions two days before the start of the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, where a social uprising threatens to disrupt the opening match.

Visa problems and a rejected referee

Since Monday, tensions have been escalating around the strict US immigration policy, embarrassing FIFA, which can only acknowledge the damage and explains in a statement sent to AFP that it "does not intervene in the immigration procedures of the host country, including the granting of visas."

The most resounding setback involved Somali referee Omar Artan, who was turned back by US border patrol on Saturday upon his arrival in Miami, Florida, from Istanbul. Excluded from FIFA, he lamented to the New York Times that "the greatest dream of (his) life" had been shattered.

Somalia, whose citizens are subject to a travel ban to the United States by the Donald Trump administration, defended the "integrity" of its referee on Tuesday, asserting that he had a valid visa.

As for the head of the White House team in charge of organizing the World Cup, Andrew Giuliani, he assured that the rejection of the Somali referee had been motivated by "a very good reason", without specifying what it was.

Other countries have experienced administrative problems upon arrival in the United States: this is the case, according to the Guardian, of Iraq, whose star striker Aymen Hussein was held for nearly seven hours on Saturday at Chicago airport, while the team's official photographer, Talal Salah, was refused entry into the country despite a valid visa.

Iran in the dark

In the heated context of the war that erupted in the Middle East following the Israeli-American offensive on Iran on February 28, "Team Melli" is continuing its preparation as best it can in its Mexican base camp in Tijuana.

After a period of uncertainty about their participation, the Iranian players and staff have received their visas for the United States where they are due to play their first three matches, but several accompanying persons have had their applications refused, including the president of the federation Mehdi Taj.

And they will indeed finally travel to Los Angeles on June 14, by charter flight, on the eve of entering the competition against New Zealand scheduled for June 15, the spokesman for the Iranian Federation announced on Tuesday.

A highly anticipated event for the large Iranian community in Los Angeles. However, fans could bear the brunt of geopolitical tensions with the United States, as the Iranian Football Federation has accused the US of withdrawing its World Cup ticket allocation, contrary to FIFA regulations which assign tickets to each country for its matches.

There's rumbling in Mexico City

Two days before the start of the competition in the Mexican capital, preparations continue in a particularly tense social climate.

Thousands of protesters, demanding pay raises and the repeal of a pension law, blocked the main access to the Azteca stadium on Tuesday, where the opening ceremony and Mexico-South Africa match are scheduled to take place on Thursday.

Thousands of police officers have been deployed around the stadium and concrete barriers have been installed across the road, while a call for a demonstration has already been issued for Thursday.

President Claudia Sheinbaum, who promised a peaceful opening ceremony in Mexico City, called the protests a "provocation," but ruled out for the time being ordering the police to suppress them.

The favorites are performing well, the stars are taking care of themselves.

On the sporting side, the favorites delivered in their last preparation matches.

France easily defeated Northern Ireland (3-1), thanks to a hat-trick from Michael Olise, on Monday night in Lille. And Spain, the European champions, beat Peru (3-1) without Lamine Yamal. The striker, who suffered a right thigh injury, should, according to his coach, be fit for La Roja's first match against Cape Verde on June 16.

A less optimistic outlook surrounds Neymar ahead of Brazil's opening match against Morocco on Saturday, even though his calf injury is "progressing well," according to the Brazilian Football Confederation. Meanwhile, the 34-year-old Neymar says he feels "like a kid going to his first World Cup" in a documentary.

Another veteran struggling with his body (Achilles tendon), Lionel Messi may play a few minutes with the Argentinian world champions, who face Iceland in Auburn (Alabama) this evening to complete their preparation.