Looks like the World Cup is getting off to a great start...

[Ocelot II]

Iraq's World Cup striker, Aymen Hussein, was held and questioned for nearly seven ​hours at Chicago's O'Hare airport after arriving with the squad ‌early on Saturday morning (6 June). According to an Iraqi sporting official, the 30-year-old was finally allowed in, but the team's photographer was barred from entering the United States.

While no official comment has yet been made by Iraq on the matter, an official explained that Hussein's phone was inspected after he arrived. He then added:

"National team photographer Talal Salah was held ​for more than 10 ​hours, underwent ⁠similar phone checks, and was ultimately denied entry into the United States."
https://www.givemesport.com/world-cup-iraq-star-held-questioned-for-hours-us-chicago-airport/

[2naSalit]

1. Everyone should refuse...

To play in or attend any games in this fucked up country.

[underpants]

2. You'd think this would've all been worked out ahead of time

[Wonder Why]

5. How do you work things out with Nazi ICE?

[underpants]

8. Well, I guess I expected more out the world's only FIFA Peace Prize winner

They gave him an award for crying out loud.

Totally tongue in cheek

[vapor2]

3. Telling you, they needed to MOVE the Games

[maxsolomon]

13. Telling you, they're not moving them.

It starts FRIDAY.

[malaise]

4. More- We are upset': Iran players hit out at US visa delay after World Cup arrival in Mexico

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/07/iran-players-us-visa-delays-world-cup-2026-mexico

Iran’s World Cup 2026 squad landed in Mexico on Sunday amid a bitter diplomatic row, after the United States refused to issue visas for some team support staff.

The Iran coach, Amir Ghalenoei, complained on arrival at Tijuana airport that “we should have been here last week because a 12-hour time difference needs two weeks of adjusting. Usually in these tournaments, before technical matters, ethical and human considerations must be respected – which I think for us it was not the case.”

After departing from their training camp in Turkey a day earlier, the Iran team landed around 5am (1pm BST) on Sunday in the Mexican border city of Tijuana. Ghalenoei’s side will be based in Tijuana throughout the tournament, despite playing all three of their group-stage games in the US.

The dispute has erupted just days before Thursday’s kick-off of the 2026 World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Ghalenoei thanked world football’s governing body, Fifa, for its efforts to help secure entry, but added: “We are upset about this behaviour. It has certainly never happened before.”

[underpants]

7. He's absolutely correct. They have to have time to adjust.

He has to suck up to FIFA, they are his teams’ only ally here. FIFA is all powerful and as corrupt as being that allows….and more.

[malaise]

9. Well given how corrupt most of its continental and regional associations are,

What would you expect at the top?
Under Chuck Blazer, CONCACAF’s head office was in Trump Tower. Blazer also rented another Trump property for his cats.
FIFA has an office in Trump Tower.

[underpants]

10. I didn't know that but of course they do.

[Iggo]

6. And those are our friends!

[Renew Deal]

11. I don't know how the US can host an Olympics with 200 countries when they can't handle 48 mostly friendly ones

And Iraq is supposed to be on the friendly list

[maxsolomon]

15. the US can handle it.

it's the Trump clown car that can't

[malaise]

12. Adding this

[maxsolomon]

14. What's on their phones?

Muqtada Al-Sadr photos?

The Al-Jazeera app?

[tavernier]

16. When you let the fox into the henhouse

you better be prepared to find dead chickens, broken eggs, and a general bloody mess. Doesn’t take long either.