Italy’s repechage to the World Cup: Fabio Cannavaro also in the crosshairs
Just a few days before the World Cup kicks off in Canada, the United States and Mexico, incidents are multiplying that highlight the tight security measures put in place by the Trump administration and U.S. police regarding foreigners arriving on U.S. soil. The latest case concerns the national team of Uzbekistan.
The players and technical staff of the Asian selection, including the coach Fabio Cannavaro himself, were rigidly searched as soon as they got off the bus that brought the team to New York for the friendly against the Netherlands. As they disembarked from the vehicle, Cannavaro and his players were met by a lineup of officers, complete with metal detectors and drug-sniffing dogs. Videos of the search went viral: the Uzbeks were frisked and even their suitcases and bags were viewed.
A few days ago Senegalese footballer Pathé Ciss and Iraq striker Hussein were also subjected to extremely strict checks and interrogated for hours by local police before being released. It did not get any better for Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was selected by FIFA as one of 52 match directors for the final stage of the tournament. Despite holding a regular visa, Artan was turned away upon arrival in the United States and sent back to Turkey, from where he had departed via Kenya. The Trump administration had suspended visas for 75 countries earlier this year, including Somalia. The case caused an uproar considering the referee’s profile: he had been named best African referee of the year in 2025 and had directed several high-profile matches in recent years. At the moment it remains uncertain whether the misunderstanding will be cleared up and whether Artan will be granted entry.
Standing against the backdrop of this series of diplomatic tensions is also the troubled affair of the Iranian national team, which only in the last few hours obtained the U.S. visas needed to participate in the competition after weeks of uncertainty related to the difficult geopolitical situation between Washington and Tehran. Some key members of the delegation, including the team manager, executive director, photographer and communications officer, have not yet received clearance to enter the United States.
