‘We’re Working on it’ – Donald Trump Issues Statement on US Granting World Cup Visas

Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:

With just hours remaining until the start of the 2026 World Cup, US president Donald Trump has been forced to defend the country’s stance on immigration, which has led to mass anger and confusion among many.

Although Mexico and Canada are also hosting matches, the vast majority of the tournament will take place in the USA. Players, staff and officials have begun to arrive in the US over the last week, leading to to a number of viral incidents.

Most notably, Somali referee Omar Artan, who had been set to take charge of a number of World Cup matches, was denied entry to the country on Monday. Despite having previously been granted a visa, Artan was told he would not be allowed to enter the country due to “vetting concerns”.

Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:

With just hours remaining until the start of the 2026 World Cup, US president Donald Trump has been forced to defend the country’s stance on immigration, which has led to mass anger and confusion among many.

Although Mexico and Canada are also hosting matches, the vast majority of the tournament will take place in the USA. Players, staff and officials have begun to arrive in the US over the last week, leading to to a number of viral incidents.

Most notably, Somali referee Omar Artan, who had been set to take charge of a number of World Cup matches, was denied entry to the country on Monday. Despite having previously been granted a visa, Artan was told he would not be allowed to enter the country due to “vetting concerns”.

It later transpired that the decision was made as Artan shares the same name as a leader of the Al Shabab military group. However, the referee is far from the only figure to encounter resistance when attempting to enter the country.

2026 World Cup Visa Controversies Explored

Earlier this week, footage emerged showing players and staff from the Senegal camp being checked on the tarmac by airport security as they prepared to board a plane from Raleigh, North Carolina to San ​Antonio, Texas. Fans were enraged at the situation, accusing officials of treating the group “like criminals”.

Supporters themselves have also complained about nonsensical visa rules, with some feeling that they have been “excluded” from the tournament.

Iranian fans, in particular, are fuming. The country recently confirmed that they had had their entire allocation of tickets revoked ahead of the tournament.

Such has been the strength of public feeling about the immigration and visa issues that President Trump was forced to address the issue during a press briefing in the Oval Office on Wednesday.

Donald Trump has given an update on the visa situation for people wanting to enter the USA for the World Cup. pic.twitter.com/TC8qhQ3DRK

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 10, 2026

Asked to respond to concerns that “people are afraid that it’s going to be harder and harder to get visas to come from outside [for the World Cup]”, Trump declared:

“We’re working on it very closely to make sure the right people come into our country.”

Trump had previously claimed: “It’s the most successful World Cup they [Fifa] have ever had,” before touting the number of tickets sold for the tournament.

Fifa President Defends Visa Controversies

“I mean to trust us, that we are working behind the scenes, we are trying to understand and there are things we can know, things we cannot know, things we are told, not told.

“We always try to make the situation as positive as possible and to find solutions. Sometimes we manage, other times not.

“I think it has already been successful to bring Iran to play in America. I don’t know who would have managed to do that, and of course, everyone here believes it’s the right thing to do but again, we don’t live on the moon; we live on planet earth, and you have to deal with different situations. We try to do our best and I hope we’ll have some good news.”