CHICAGO: Arab and Muslim American leaders have accused the Customs and Border Protection agency and FIFA World Cup officials of targeting players from the Arab and Muslim worlds.
Even before the tournament began, the US began denying entry to prominent players and referees from Arab and Muslim nations.
Community leaders are demanding that FIFA officials address what they see as discrimination.
“The World Cup should bring nations together, not apart. In the spirit of sports, why is our country creating barriers such as visa denials, detentions, screenings and restricted travel — preventing athletes, team officials and fans from participating?” Warren David, president of the Arab America Foundation, told Arab News.
“This is deeply disturbing. The world is watching. The credibility of the World Cup tournament depends on equal rights for everyone involved.”
On Tuesday, CBP refused entry to Omar Artan, who was set to become the first Somali to referee at the World Cup but was barred from entering the US at Miami International Airport.
Named the 2025 Confederation of African Football Men’s Referee of the Year, Artan was dropped from the World Cup officials’ list after FIFA failed to protest the US decision.
There have been many other incidents reported since at US airports. “I’m extremely concerned about these reports, even though they’re not entirely surprising considering the deteriorating bilateral relations between the US and Arab, Muslim and other Third World countries,” Khalil Jahshan, executive director of the Arab Center in Washington D.C, told Arab News. “It’s very sad.”
Jenin Younes, president and legal director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, told Arab News that this World Cup is “proving to be the most discriminatory, especially here in the US. Reports of Arab and African players and fans being held for hours of questioning at US airports, and in some cases denied entry despite having their immigration paperwork being in order, are extremely troubling.”
She added: “Not only does the situation undermine our claimed commitment to civil liberties and the rule of law, but it’s also antithetical to our economic interests.”
Hassan Nijem, president of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce in Illinois, told Arab News that the conduct of border security is “unsportsmanlike” and contradicts the purpose of hosting the World Cup in the US.
“When the Arab world hosted the World Cup in 2022 in Qatar, there was no discrimination. Politics was set aside for the respect of sport,” he added.
“We continue to hear about incidents of racial and religious discrimination against Arab and Muslim World Cup players and fans right here in this country. It’s embarrassing to every American and casts the US in a very negative light.”
He said he is joining the call for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to publicly address this concern before it gets out of hand.
Nijem said the public is only hearing about the higher-profile incidents, such as the lengthy detention of Iraqi player Aymen Hussein.
Adel Mozip, a producer at US Arab Radio in Dearborn, Michigan, told Arab News that callers have inundated phone lines with concerns.
“We’re hearing growing frustration and disappointment from many families in Dearborn and Michigan about the treatment of Arab and Muslim team players and staff by the US government,” he added.
“There’s a strong perception that US visa policies and entry restrictions are disproportionately affecting Arab and Muslim players, coaches, officials, and especially fans trying to participate in or attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“Recent incidents, such as the detention of Iraqi players and staff, the denial of entry to a Somali referee, and broad travel restrictions impacting fans from countries like Iran and others, have left the Arab and Muslim community feeling that politics is overshadowing the spirit of the beautiful game.”
The growing controversy is fueling a #BoycottWorldCup movement on social media.
