Politics
Immigration Advocates Condemn Trump Administration Over ‘Discriminatory’ Treatment of World Cup Teams
Fasika Alem, programs director at United African Organization, speaks during a news conference on June 9, 2026. (Eunice Alpasan / WTTW News)
With the FIFA Men’s World Cup kicking off later this week, immigration rights groups in Chicago are demanding the Trump administration end what they describe as “discriminatory restrictions” that are preventing soccer teams and fans from fully participating in events.
“The World Cup should be a moment that brings people together across borders, cultures and continents; it should not be used to reinforce exclusion,” Fasika Alem, programs director at the United African Organization, said during a Tuesday news conference. “If the United States is going to host the world, it must welcome the world.”
The FIFA Men’s World Cup kicks off Thursday and runs through July 19. Matches are being held at stadiums in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
The news conference came after a photographer traveling with the Iraq national soccer team was denied entry to the U.S. at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Friday following additional screening from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Iraqi player Aymen Hussein, according to Reuters, also faced additional screening and was later admitted to the U.S.
The photographer was denied entry due to “classified information in accordance with U.S. law,” according to a Customs and Border Protection statement.
“All travelers seeking entry into the United States, including athletes, coaches, and staff, are subject to CBP inspection and vetting,” the statement said. “Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection.”
World Cup qualifier Iraq is slated to play against Venezuela in an international friendly Tuesday night at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview ahead of the start of World Cup matches later this week.
Chicago will not host any World Cup games. The city, led by then Mayor Rahm Emanuel, declined in 2018 to pursue a bid to host World Cup matches at Soldier Field due to disagreements and financial concerns with FIFA’s hosting agreement.
The news conference Tuesday was led by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and its coalition members Arab American Action Network and United African Organization.
Advocates highlighted Somali referee Omar Artan being denied entry to the U.S., the Iranian national team experiencing U.S. visa denials of support staff, the South Africa national team facing U.S. visa delays and more.
“These restrictions are not merely administrative hurdles,” Alem said. “They are a reflection of discriminatory immigration policies that disproportionately target people based on nationality, race and country of origin.”
Muhammad Sankari, organizing director at the Arab American Action Network, said the actions from the Trump administration toward World Cup teams and officials are an extension of the administration’s travel ban, affecting mostly Arab and African countries.
“This is rooted in the racism of this administration,” Sankari said. “It is totally unacceptable for a host nation of an international sporting competition to treat people this way.”
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is participating in campaigns that call on keeping U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement out of World Cup stadium areas and watch parties, and that also call for a moratorium on ICE operations and the lifting of the travel bans impacting people from Haiti, Iran, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, according to movement building director Cinthya Rodriguez.
Advocates said they will be hosting an invite-only “ICE-free” watch party Saturday, protected by rapid response volunteers so that community members can gather to watch the World Cup.
Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]
