2026 FIFA World Cup

[donlever]

Lever can you hook me up with England WC seats for me my wife and kid?

Yeahsure....the rest is on you.

100%.

Unless I am misunderstanding your intent here Topper.

[Topper]

An odd discussion for a client/provider relationship.

Call me old school, if someone asks, I'm not likely to provide, nor would I ask.

That said, I've also provided added perks and recieved perks, but not on request.

[donlever]

Long term close relationship.

Oddity not commonality at that value range.

Having said that guys are free to ask me for things like Canuck tickets.

[Per]

Loads of Scottish fans getting their travel permits revoked last minute without explanation.

[Cookie La Rue]

Total bullshit, even a FIFA referee from Somalia lost his permission a few days ago.
Ps: after reading the article in the news, he had valid papers but was rejected at the airport in Miami and had to fly back. The glorious Infantino is doing nothing of course.

[UWSaint]

Total bullshit, even a FIFA referee from Somalia lost his permission a few days ago.
Ps: after reading the article in the news, he had valid papers but was rejected at the airport in Miami and had to fly back. The glorious Infantino is doing nothing of course.

Yeah, you can't be a referee and be denied entry into a country....

I mean, we now that no one affiliated with FIFA or Somalia could ever be involved in things that might get you denied entry.

As for the Scottish fans, it isn't all Scottish fans. Its a handful, near as I can tell. Yes, they aren't saying why -- what's more likely, that it is completely capricious, or that there are individual circumstances warranting it? I am not ruling out the possibility that there isn't a good reason, or there isn't a reason that I would think is good in that circumstance, but we should not equate "no stated reason" with "no reason."

I'm sure y'all saw that the UK revoked Hassan Piker and Cenk Uygar's visas recently. (Two American political commentators of Turkish descent, both left wingers, though one a communist airhead pretty boy and the other a corpulant talking head who has substance and intelligence when that's how he wants to engage -- but he's usually more about the sport of it) No reason given. Must be because of their politics, right? Can't be because the UK government has some concerns about things the UK government suspects (or knows) they are involved in.

[Per]

Total bullshit, even a FIFA referee from Somalia lost his permission a few days ago.
Ps: after reading the article in the news, he had valid papers but was rejected at the airport in Miami and had to fly back. The glorious Infantino is doing nothing of course.

Yeah, you can't be a referee and be denied entry into a country....

I mean, we now that no one affiliated with FIFA or Somalia could ever be involved in things that might get you denied entry.

As for the Scottish fans, it isn't all Scottish fans. Its a handful, near as I can tell. Yes, they aren't saying why -- what's more likely, that it is completely capricious, or that there are individual circumstances warranting it? I am not ruling out the possibility that there isn't a good reason, or there isn't a reason that I would think is good in that circumstance, but we should not equate "no stated reason" with "no reason."

I'm sure y'all saw that the UK revoked Hassan Piker and Cenk Uygar's visas recently. (Two American political commentators of Turkish descent, both left wingers, though one a communist airhead pretty boy and the other a corpulant talking head who has substance and intelligence when that's how he wants to engage -- but he's usually more about the sport of it) No reason given. Must be because of their politics, right? Can't be because the UK government has some concerns about things the UK government suspects (or knows) they are involved in.

Omar Artan was named best African referee in 2025 and has earned his spot in the World Cup.

If the USA refuses to honour its commitments, the tournament should be moved elsewhere. Maybe move the games to Canada or Mexico.

Imagine if Qatar or Russia had refused entry to referees appointed by FIFA to the world cups held there, the outrage it would have caused.

https://talksport.com/football/world-cu ... Pk4QQN6Bwg

[donlever]

What would the world be like were we not able to be outraged by such prominent scenarios.

Play the fucking tournament.

Get it over with.

Never house it in the US (or Canada) again (they don't give a shit regardless).

Move on.

[Topper]

Crossing international borders and entering a foreign country is not a right.

Countries still decide who is admissible and who isn't. It is their sovereign right.

The US isn't releasing, nor should they, details of the case.

[Meds]

Omar Artan was named best African referee in 2025 and has earned his spot in the World Cup.

If the USA refuses to honour its commitments, the tournament should be moved elsewhere. Maybe move the games to Canada or Mexico.

Imagine if Qatar or Russia had refused entry to referees appointed by FIFA to the world cups held there, the outrage it would have caused.

https://talksport.com/football/world-cu ... Pk4QQN6Bwg

Being named best African referee in 2025 does not earn you entry into a country.....if it did, I would question that country's commitment to national security.

When did the USA commit to allowing specific individuals into their country? They are under no obligation to permit people in just because they are part of a soccer tournament.

From your own quoted article.....

A statement read: "FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan's status will not be changed at present.

“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”

And now a reason.....

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/ ... error-ties

[Cookie La Rue]

Ridiculous, suspected terror ties Does it mean he'll be reffing with an explosive belt under his jersey?
Pure arbitrariness. What about the players? You could suspect anybody of something they don't like.
Oh no, we can't because they're needed to make the big money. Fucked up world.
I guess it was easier to go to the Olympic Games in 1936.

[Topper]

Dress rehearsal for the LA Olympics

[UWSaint]

Ridiculous, suspected terror ties Does it mean he'll be reffing with an explosive belt under his jersey?
Pure arbitrariness. What about the players? You could suspect anybody of something they don't like.
Oh no, we can't because they're needed to make the big money. Fucked up world.
I guess it was easier to go to the Olympic Games in 1936.

Associations with terrorists/terrorist groups is not "arbitrary."

It also doesn't mean he's a criminal, but we aren't going to have full adjudications for all visa applicants. Entry is a privilege, not a right.

Its also not arbitrary that Somalis (along with travel from about (or with the passport of) 3 dozen other nations) are held to stricter vetting standards for entry.

As for the players, there are plenty of examples of athletes being deprived entry into countries. Remember Bob Probert. Funny thing about Probert is that he was initially denied visa status but the NHL (or Red Wings), making the argument that he's just an athlete and don't f up our sport. So the US relented, gave him a visa.

2 years later Probert was caught smuggling cocaine into the US from Canada. Again, travel banned -- but it ended up resulting in him not being allowed back into Canada (or more accurately, if he leaves the US (and he had his work visa, playing for the Red Wings)), he's not going to be permitted reentry.

How about Djokovic and Australia? Denied entry in 2022. That one I thought was a total joke because I thought the vax policy was a total joke, but it also wasn't arbitrarily applied to protect athletes. This guy won several Australian Opens. He was still a top player. Top players increase interest in the sport. The Aussie Open took a hit for it.

I have no problem with critiquing US border control policy. But I think the claim the US is being vindicative or arbitrary about its entry decisions reflects a lack of appreciation for what does into visa reviews, and the idea that more lenient criteria should be applied to athletes and people associated with them is ridiculous. (Which is not to say that the purpose for entry is irrelevant in the application of the criteria, just that the criteria shouldn't change).

The other thing missed in this tut tutting is that the US ahs streamlined the process for entry. Its made accommodations for the event and fans, but the accommodations are about speed and the deposit, not the underlying substantive standards.