Trending 
US immigration officials barred Somali referee Omar Artan from entering the country, forcing FIFA to drop him from the World Cup and sparking fresh concerns over how the Trump administration’s travel ban could disrupt the tournament.
Border Patrol agents turned Artan away at Miami International Airport over vetting concerns.
FIFA confirmed Artan cannot participate and stressed that host nations hold absolute authority over immigration.
Meanwhile, the Iranian national team began training at their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, under a cloud of diplomatic tension.
The United States refused to issue visas to 15 of Iran’s support staff members, delaying the team’s arrival by a week.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei criticised the decision, stating that the host country failed to respect ethical and human considerations.
In Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum promised that threatened teacher union protests would not disrupt Thursday’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa.
Following recent clashes where police used tear gas against demonstrators near a major fan zone, authorities erected metal barricades to prevent further unrest and guarantee peace during the celebration.
As the 48 teams settled into their respective base camps for the five-and-a-half-week tournament, five-time champions Brazil arrived in New Jersey.
Midfielder Bruno Guimaraes demanded respect for the Selecao, reminding reporters of their unmatched history and elite talent.
The Brazilian camp also reported that superstar Neymar is recovering well from a calf injury, though he remains a doubt for Saturday’s opener against Morocco.
Across the Atlantic, France wrapped up their tournament preparations with a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland in Lille, driven by a Michael Olise hat-trick.
The win restored confidence after a previous loss to the Ivory Coast.
Didier Deschamps’ squad will fly to their Boston training base on Wednesday before opening their campaign against Senegal next Tuesday.
