FIFA's World Cup Control Ends at the Border

Omar Artan, the 2025 CAF Referee of the Year, was denied a US visa and dropped from the 2026 World Cup officiating roster. While FIFA negotiates hosting agreements requiring visa access for accredited participants, US sovereign authority over admissions remains absolute. FIFA lacks legal leverage to compel entry, exposing a structural gap: the governing body can select officials globally but cannot guarantee they'll enter the host nation. This tension mirrors past tournaments—Qatar's concerns over migrant workers and LGBTQ+ visitors—revealing a recurring impasse between FIFA's universalist ambitions and host-nation control.