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The World Cup puts the US’s nightmarish immigration policies front and center

The Verge·June 26, 2026

While European tourists marvel at ranch dressing, Buc-ee's, and other wonders of Middle America, would-be World Cup attendees from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East have experienced a different American pastime: exclusion. President Donald Trump's nakedly racist immigration policies have prevented scores of people from traveling to the United States for the event - even, in some cases, the players themselves. Swiss forward Breel Embolo wasn't allowed to board the team's flight to the US because of a criminal conviction from 2018 and had to apply for an emergency visa. In the wake of the US's attack on Iran, the Iranian team moved its traini …

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