The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) has called on FIFA to urgently intervene after dozens of accredited journalists reported being denied or restricted US visas ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, raising concerns that media coverage of the tournament could be severely disrupted.
With only days before kick-off, AIPS said it is “unacceptable” that reporters who have completed FIFA’s accreditation process are still unable to secure entry into the United States.
“In this difficult time for the entire world, on the eve of the futuristic 2026 FIFA World Cup, we find ourselves facing a long-standing and unacceptable problem for us journalists: the denial of entry visas to regularly accredited colleagues,” AIPS president Gianni Merlo said in a letter to FIFA’s director of media relations Bryan Swanson and head of media operations Jochen Steinhoff.
Merlo said journalists from Africa, Iran and several Asian countries are facing visa refusals, delays or single‑entry limitations that would prevent them from travelling between the tournament’s three host nations – the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“The cases are countless and, I repeat, unacceptable.”
He revealed that several reporters have already lost money on flights and accommodation due to the delays.
The official said the situation undermines the principle of global access to the World Cup and contradicts the spirit of a tournament marketed as the most inclusive in FIFA’s history.
“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,” Merlo said, adding that press freedom is a core value that must be upheld by the host nation.
He urged FIFA to use its influence to ensure that accredited journalists are granted the visas they need to cover matches across all three host countries.
The visa difficulties extend beyond the press corps. Football associations, match officials and fans from multiple countries have reported long processing times, interview backlogs and inconsistent decisions at US consulates.
Supporters’ groups in West Africa and South Asia have complained that even applicants with match tickets and confirmed accommodation have been unable to secure appointments for US visa applications, while several national federations have raised concerns that technical staff may not receive visas in time.
The 2026 World Cup, the first to be hosted by three nations, is expected to draw record numbers of international visitors.
The US visa system has faced criticism for months, with applicants in several regions reporting wait times of more than 100 days and inconsistent outcomes even for those with FIFA documentation.
JN/APA