Immigration

World Cup trip to Miami complicated by immigration issues? We want to hear from you

Gabon's forward #20 Denis Bouanga is shown the yellow card by Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group F football match between Gabon and Ivory Coast at the Grand Stadium in Marrakech on December 31, 2025. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP via Getty Images)
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan (right) was denied entry to the U.S. to wrok at the World Cup. Have you experienced any complications getting to the U.S. for the matches? AFP via Getty Images

The long-awaited World Cup in North America kicks off Thursday, with national teams from all across the globe preparing to face off in the biggest games of their lives.

But the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement has complicated the international event, with fans from Morocco and Scotland reporting that they were unable to enter the country after making plans and purchasing tickets, a Somali World Cup referee was turned around at Miami International Airport and reports of an Iraqi soccer star facing interrogation in the Chicago airport.

U.S. and FIFA officials have assuaged concerns for months, emphasizing that travel and customs would be smooth while sticking to rigorous vetting standards. Customs and Border Protections touted that they approved 5 million Electronic System for Travel Authorization – or ESTA – applications. The agency has also green lit over 1.6 million applications for vetted travelers to expedite their entry into the U.S. and Canada.

In a statement to the Miami Herald last week, Homeland Security Secretary Lauren Bis said that “international visitors who legally come to the United States for the World Cup have nothing to worry about” when it came to immigration enforcement.

The Miami Herald is looking to speak with people traveling to Miami for the World Cup who have not been able to obtain visas, or faced difficulty entering the country at the airport, or were turned around at the airport. If you are a player, a fan, or a staffer, we want to talk to you.

Please fill out the form below, and one of our reporters will reach out to you. What you choose to share will be kept confidential and won’t be published unless a reporter has gotten in touch with you. We will not share your name or details without your consent. Prior to any interview, we can decide the conditions of our conversation to ensure your safety and comfort.

If you can’t access the form below, click on this link.

This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 2:40 PM.

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Syra Ortiz Blanes
el Nuevo Herald
Syra Ortiz Blanes covers immigration for the Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald. Previously, she was the Puerto Rico and Spanish Caribbean reporter for the Heralds through Report for America.
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