U.S. World Cup chief defends visa ban on Somali referee, Iranians

As the World Cup draws closer, the White House official overseeing US preparations has defended a decision that has already stirred controversy: denying entry visas to a Somali referee and several members of Iran’s support staff.

Speaking at an Atlantic Council event in Washington, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, said the United States had already welcomed dozens of participating sides without blocking any players or coaches.

“To this point we’ve had 35 teams that have come into the United States,” Mr Giuliani said. “No players, no coaches have been denied. There have been some officials that have been denied, and for good reason.”

A US State Department official said last night that the referee was “associated with suspected members of terrorist organisations,” therefore “making the traveler ineligible for admission to the United States”.

Andrew GiulianI (L) with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in New York last weekend

Mr Giuliani said officials were trying to protect the tournament without shutting the door on legitimate participants.

“We’re striking that balance between making sure that any bad actors that…try to come into the country under the guise of the World Cup will not get access to the United States,” he added.

Mr Artan, who in 2025 was named men’s referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football, had been set to become the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup.

Instead, he was turned back at Miami airport.

Watch: Somali referee denied US entry returns home, thanks FIFA for support

Somalia is among several nations covered by a travel ban introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration as part of a wider immigration crackdown.

Iran, whose three group-stage matches will all be played in the United States, has already been forced to relocate its training base to Mexico because of the continuing military conflict with the US.

The Iranian football federation has said its supporter ticket allocation was withdrawn and that some members of the team’s backroom staff were also refused visas.

Mr Giuliani said “all the Iranian coaching staff is coming in” but added that “some Iranian officials…are not coming in – again for very good reason”.

Members of the Iranian team arrive at the team hotel in Tijuana, Mexico

He said he “can’t get into the particulars” but suggested some of those seeking entry may have misrepresented their roles, saying “there are some people that claim that they are coaches that may not be coaches”.

Mr Giuliani said Mr Trump wanted to ensure there was a “level playing field” for every nation in the tournament, while also making sure “that people that are directly working, let’s say, with the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) have no ability to access the United States of America”.

The White House envoy also said there were currently “no credible threats” to the tournament, but added that the intelligence community has “tripled down” and will keep monitoring the situation “between now and whenever the final goal is scored on July 19.”