Executive Director of the White House Task Force defending US travel restrictions on Iran's World Cup team during 2026 tournament.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Joy Online
… Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, emphasised that the team must maintain a strict, uninterrupted biological bubble while training in Europe. …
Spain cancels DR Congo World Cup warm-up match against Chile over Ebola concernsJoy Online
… In a statement issued to BBC Sport, Andrew Giuliani, executive director for the White House World Cup task force said events in Washington DC were a “sobering reminder of the unpredictable threats facing our nation”. …
White House wants Department of Homeland Security reopen for World CupIran left a handwritten note in their dressing room after a goalless draw with Belgium, saying "may peace, respect, and friendship prevail among all nations." The message referenced Iran's pride and dignity, thanked Los Angeles for hospitality, and made reference to an attack on a girls' school in Minab that killed at least 168 people on the first day of the war.
10 hours ago · Joy Online →
Iran left a handwritten note in their dressing room after a goalless draw with Belgium, saying "may peace, respect, and friendship prevail among all nations." The message referenced Iran's pride and dignity, thanked Los Angeles for hospitality, and made reference to an attack on a girls' school in Minab that killed at least 168 people on the first day of the war.
10 hours ago · Joy Online →
The United States says it will continue assessing Iran's World Cup travel arrangements, which restrict the team to venues within 24 hours of their fixtures and require them to return to their training base in Tijuana after each game. Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House Task Force, defended the measures and said a shift from Tucson to Tijuana reduced Iran's travel time, while some team officials remain without visas.
22 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
The Iranian national soccer team must depart the United States within hours of completing their remaining World Cup group stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle. Iran's coach expressed frustration that the requirement prevents players from using standard post-match recovery time, though US officials say the policy follows established procedures for national security.
17 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Omar Artan, a 34-year-old Somali referee and Africa's 2025 referee of the year, was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport on Monday because of alleged "association with suspected members of terror organisations," according to a Trump administration official. Artan, who held a diplomatic passport and single-entry US visa and was set to become the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals, was questioned about links to Al Shabab and told border officials he knew nothing about the group.
11 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Somali referee Omar Artan, set to be the first from Somalia to referee at a World Cup finals, was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport and dropped from the 2026 World Cup officials list, despite holding what he described as the "right papers" and "right visa." The US immigration authorities provided no reason for the denial, though Somalia is on a travel ban list introduced by the Trump administration.
10 June 2026 · Daily Guide →
Somali referee Omar Artan, set to be the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals, was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport and dropped from the 2026 World Cup officials list after an 11-hour immigration interview, despite holding valid papers and visa. No reason was issued by US immigration authorities, though Somalia is on a travel ban list introduced by President Trump's administration.
10 June 2026 · Daily Guide →
Somali referee Omar Artan was barred from entering the United States at Miami International Airport and dropped from the World Cup 2026 officials list, despite holding valid papers and visa. No reason for the denial was issued by US immigration authorities, though Somalia is on a travel ban list introduced by the Trump administration.
10 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport and dropped from the World Cup officials list, despite holding valid documents and visa. No reason for his repatriation was issued by US immigration authorities, though Somalia is on a travel ban list; FIFA says Artan will miss the tournament.
10 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Somali referee Omar Artan says he was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup despite holding valid papers and visa, after an 11-hour immigration interview at Miami International Airport. Artan, who would have been the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals, was dropped from the officials list; FIFA confirmed he will be unable to officiate at the tournament.
10 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Omar Artan, the 2025 CAF men's referee of the year and set to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals, was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport. FIFA confirmed he will be unable to officiate at the 2026 World Cup, citing host-country immigration processes as outside FIFA's control; Somalia is among countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump's administration.
8 June 2026 · Joy Online →
A pre-World Cup friendly between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chile scheduled for June 9 in southern Spain has been cancelled by the mayor of La Línea de la Concepción due to public health concerns over an active Ebola outbreak in the central African nation.
5 June 2026 · Joy Online →
White House officials preparing for the 2026 World Cup in the United States say reopening the Department of Homeland Security is "essential," citing a security incident at a Washington DC gala where a man was charged with attempting to assassinate President Trump. The incident has prompted a White House security review and concerns from those planning the tournament.
28 April 2026 · Joy Online →