The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) has written to FIFA claiming that “many” Iranian and African journalists have been denied the necessary visas to cowl the World Cup within the United States.
The letter, despatched on June 5 and printed on the AIPS web site, was deal with to Bryan Swanson, FIFA’s director of media relations, and Jochen Steinhoff, FIFA’s head of media operations & companies.
AIPS president Gianni Merlo wrote: “We find ourselves facing a long-standing and unacceptable problem for us journalists: the denial of entry visas to regularly accredited colleagues.
“There are many cases: Iranian colleagues, African colleagues, some of whom have been given single entries, so if their team goes to play in Canada or Mexico and they follow it, they can no longer return to the States. The cases are countless and, I repeat, unacceptable. Politicians always say that sport unites and builds bridges between young people in countries in conflict, but in this case, we are going in the opposite direction.
“We believe it is important to allow colleagues to attend the event and work, because their presence will be crucial to the image of sport and what it represents, especially in a country like the United States of America, where freedom of the press is a must.
“I hope FIFA can do everything possible to secure visas. We’re already significantly behind schedule, and many colleagues have already lost the opportunity to use plane tickets booked on time, and they’ll also face significant additional expenses.”
The U.S. State Department has been approached for remark. A FIFA spokesperson confirmed it has obtained the letter.
Multi-entry visas can be necessary significantly for groups who’ve group stage video games within the United States but additionally Canada or Mexico.
Ivory Coast, for instance, have a bunch sport in Toronto sandwiched between two video games in Philadelphia, whereas Senegal’s remaining group-stage sport is in Toronto, and they might have to return to the U.S. for knockout video games. Tunisia’s first two video games will likely be in Mexico earlier than their remaining group sport in Kansas City.
AIPS ordinarily seem to have a robust working relationship with FIFA. Only in April, dozens of representatives from AIPS visited at FIFA’s Switzerland HQ. AIPS even gave FIFA an award for the Best Press Facilities Award for 2025, rewarding FIFA’s strategy to press operations through the FIFA Club World Cup within the United States. FIFA president Gianni Infantino attended just one press convention throughout all the match.
“We appreciate and respect the important work of the media,” Swanson instructed delegates. “We understand journalists have a job to do in covering FIFA’s activities and we do what we can to support you, whether at our tournaments and events or elsewhere. All we ever ask is to be reported on with fairness and balance.”
The query of visas to enter the U.S. for the World Cup has been a serious speaking level since President Donald Trump returned to the White House final yr. He campaigned on the mass deportation of unlawful immigrants and his administration has elevated the stringency and vetting of visa functions. This has included travel bans implemented against nationals of four countries who’ve certified for the World Cup: Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast. There are also some visa bond measures in place for Algeria, Cape Verde and Tunisia.
The journey bans embody exemptions for athletes, help workers and instant relations of those that would compete on the World Cup – however not for travelling followers or media.
The scenario as soon as once more locations FIFA president Gianni Infantino below the microscope, after he personally determined to award Trump a FIFA Peace Prize in December.
Only this week, following a gathering with Trump, Infantino wrote on Instagram: “America is ready to welcome the world for the FIFA World Cup 2026, and in today’s productive meeting, I thanked (Trump) and his Administration for their continued support of this truly global event.”
Speaking throughout Trump’s first time period in 2017, whereas the U.S. was bidding to host the 2026 World Cup, Infantino stated: “It’s obvious when it comes to FIFA competitions, any team, including the supporters and officials of that team, who qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country, otherwise there is no World Cup.”
Additionally, as a part of the United States’ joint bid with Canada and Mexico to host the World Cup — dated May 2, 2018 — Trump wrote to Infantino and stated he was assured that “all eligible athletes, officials and fans from all countries around the world would be able to enter the United States without discrimination”.
Throughout 2025, through the first yr of Trump’s second presidency, Infantino repeatedly reiterated that “America will welcome the world”.
He stated: “Everyone who wants to come here to enjoy, to have fun, and to celebrate the game will be able to do that.”