Author says World Cup unity is being strained by U.S. immigration policies

Author Erin Van Rheenen says U.S. immigration restrictions are clashing with the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s global-unity mission as the tournament nears. She points to denied entry, airport questioning and unequal treatment of participants and staff as signs the event is being pulled into broader political division. Why it matters: - The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to draw billions of viewers and is meant to project global unity. - Van Rheenen says U.S. immigration policies risk turning that symbol of connection into a showcase for division. - The issue affects not just fans, but athletes, officials, support staff and other travelers linked to the tournament. What happened: - Erin Van Rheenen, an author and soccer fan, said the United States is sending a more complicated message than co-hosts Mexico and Canada as the World Cup approaches. - The World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, and the field has expanded to 48 teams. - Van Rheenen said current U.S. immigration restrictions involve multiple participating nations. - Van Rheenen highlighted Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was appointed by FIFA but denied entry to the U.S. - Van Rheenen also cited Iraqi player Aymen Hussein, who was reportedly questioned for seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport before being allowed in. - Van Rheenen said the Iraqi team photographer was denied entry. The details: - Van Rheenen said living abroad in six countries since age 4 changed how she viewed culture and borders. - Van Rheenen said travel and life outside the U.S. made her recognize that Americans often have greater freedom of movement than people from less powerful countries. - Van Rheenen said soccer is built on connection, trust and teamwork, which the World Cup should reflect. - Van Rheenen’s latest novel, You Could Be Happy Here, is set in Costa Rica and was shaped by years of living in different countries. - Van Rheenen said stories can expand ideas about who belongs and that identity is shaped by experience and shared humanity. - Van Rheenen has lived in Nigeria, Ireland, Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador and Costa Rica. - Her essays and travel writing have appeared in BBC Travel, Atlas Obscura and The Sun. - Van Rheenen is also a journalist and has worked as a teacher, a staff writer at nonprofits and a science writer at the Exploratorium museum. - Van Rheenen holds degrees from UC Santa Cruz and the City University of New York. - A more information link was provided for her work. Between the lines: - The examples Van Rheenen raised point to inconsistent treatment based on country of origin. - Her argument is that tournament logistics are becoming a test of whether the World Cup can still function as a shared global space. - The tension she describes is not only about sports access. It is also about how immigration policy shapes cultural messaging. What’s next: - Van Rheenen said the current moment could be an early sign of a larger pattern in which global events become mirrors of division. - She is available for interviews. - Interest in the World Cup will intensify as the 2026 tournament nears and more questions emerge about entry, access and participation. The bottom line: - Van Rheenen says the World Cup is still a symbol of unity, but U.S. immigration rules may be making that message harder to defend.