Trump Says US Focused On Letting ‘Right People’ Into Country As World Cup Visa Controversies Mount

President Trump said Wednesday that his administration is working to ensure the “right people” are allowed into the United States as visa disputes and entry denials continue to generate controversy ahead of the World Cup.

“We’re working on it very closely to make sure the right people come into our country,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

The comments come as the tournament gets underway, with the United States serving as a major host nation. The first U.S.-hosted match is scheduled for Friday night in Los Angeles.

The administration has emphasized that security concerns remain a top priority and has expressed concern that individuals could attempt to enter the country under the guise of participating in or covering the tournament.

Particular scrutiny has focused on Iran’s delegation amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

“The problem with Iran would be not their athletes. It would be some of the other people they would want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this year.

“They can’t bring a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers.”

According to reports, visa applications from multiple members of Iran’s traveling party were denied. FIFA also reportedly revoked the Iranian soccer federation’s ticket allocation for its opening match.

Iranian citizens remain subject to significant travel restrictions and visa limitations under current U.S. policies.

Another high-profile controversy involved Somali referee Omar Artan, who was expected to become the first official from Somalia to referee a World Cup match.

Artan was denied entry after being detained for hours at Miami International Airport. U.S. officials later said the decision was related to an alleged association with suspected members of terrorist organizations.

Several journalists from Africa and the Middle East have also reportedly been denied visas to cover the tournament.

Meanwhile, some visitors from the Democratic Republic of Congo were denied entry amid concerns surrounding a recent Ebola outbreak.

Even travelers from allied nations have encountered issues. Reports indicate that dozens of Scottish soccer fans saw previously approved travel authorizations suddenly revoked shortly before their flights to the United States.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney urged U.S. officials to resolve the situation so supporters would not miss the tournament.

Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House World Cup Task Force, defended the administration’s actions.

“No players, no coaches have been denied,” Giuliani said. “There have been some officials that have been denied, and for good reason.”

“We’re striking that balance between making sure that any bad actors that try to come into the country under the guise of the World Cup will not get access to the United States,” he added.

The White House task force is coordinating security and logistics efforts among federal, state and local agencies as the United States prepares to host 78 matches across 11 cities, including the championship match at MetLife Stadium.

Officials have been preparing for a range of potential challenges, including terrorism threats, transportation demands, public health concerns and severe weather events.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino acknowledged the complications but said the organization is working to address issues as they arise.

“We are not the kings of the world, who can rule over governments and police forces,” Infantino said during a news conference in Mexico City.

“We work on everything, we try to resolve everything.”

As the tournament begins, the administration maintains that security screening and visa enforcement remain essential while hosting one of the largest sporting events in the world.