US president Donald Trump said his country was working to ensure “the right people” could come in after a number of visa issues affected the week leading up to the start of the World Cup.
Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US when he arrived in Miami for training ahead of the finals, while the Iranian federation said a number of its officials had also been refused visas.
Several Tartan Army members have also been rejected after they were approved for travel to the US.
Dozens of supporters say their electronic system for travel authorisation (Esta) has unexpectedly changed from “approved” to “travel not authorised”, with no explanation.
Lauren Bis, acting assistant secretary for the US Department of Homeland Security, said the Trump administration is enforcing immigration laws and that Esta applications are continuously vetted against law enforcement and security databases.
Trump was then asked about it at a White House briefing on Wednesday and said: “We’re working on it very closely to make sure the right people come into our country.”
Trump said this was “the most successful World Cup (Fifa) has ever had”, adding: “They have never sold tickets at that level.
“It’s amazing. You don’t think of soccer in this country. I spoke to Gianni this morning and he said there’s never been anything close to what’s happened.”
Reports have cited a US official claiming referee Artan had suspected links to terror organisations, an allegation Artan has not yet responded to.
Fifa has faced criticism for staging the World Cup in a country with such hard-line immigration policies, but its president Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday his organisation was not “king of the world” and had to abide by decisions taken by governments in host countries.
On the eve of the opening game in Mexico City, Infantino, who also gave a strident defence of ticket prices, said: “It was unfortunate what happened with the referee from Somalia.
“Again, we don’t control everything. We tried to discuss, we speak. Sometimes it’s good as well just to chill, relax.
“We try to solve everything, (but) screaming and shouting, that’s the opposite of finding a solution.
“We try always to find solutions (but) we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments, police forces. We are an organisation with the means we have to make as much as possible.”
The BBC pushed him on his comment about “chilling”, with Infantino adding: “In 2035 I think the Women’s World Cup will be in (the) UK.
“Would you find it normal that Fifa would dictate to the British Government who to let in the country and who not to let in the country? I don’t know, maybe you find it normal.
“Our world is a very aggressive world and security goes above everything. You need to respect the decisions.
“When I say ‘chill’, I don’t mean ‘chill and do nothing’, I mean to trust us.
“We always try to make the situation as positive as possible and find solutions. Sometimes we manage, sometimes we do not.”
