FIFA President Gianni Infantino is set to face the media on Wednesday on the eve of the FIFA 2026 World Cup, as ticket prices and U.S. visa policies continue to overshadow preparations for the tournament.
The FIFA chief will hold a press conference in Mexico City, where co-hosts Mexico face South Africa on Thursday in the opening match at the Estadio Azteca.
Read Also: World Cup 2026: Somali referee dropped after U.S. visa denial
Expanded World Cup Overshadowed by Off-Field Issues
The 2026 World Cup tournament, expanded to 48 teams and billed as the biggest in World Cup history, is being staged across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
However, its build-up has been increasingly dominated by concerns over U.S. immigration policy and accessibility for fans and officials.
Omar Artan Case Intensifies Scrutiny
The refusal of U.S. authorities to admit Somali referee Omar Artan, one of Africa’s top officials, has become a focal point in the controversy.
Artan said the “biggest dream of my life” was taken away after he was denied entry at the U.S. border.
“I am very, very disappointed,” he told The New York Times. “I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.”
The 2025 CAF Referee of the Year said he was subjected to an 11-hour interview at Miami International Airport before being detained and later deported to Turkey.
He also insisted he had valid documentation and a visa, a claim reportedly confirmed by a Somali government adviser.
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