The 2026 World Cup has caused major travel issues for fans, officials and even teams travelling to the United States of America.

High-profile African referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the States, while several Iranian officials saw their visa applications rejected. Meanwhile, fans from multiple nations have struggled to get into the country to support their respective teams.

Scotland supporters had their travel permits withdrawn at the last moment, Ivory Coast supporters were told they weren’t welcome in the US, while Senegal, Haiti and Iran have faced issues. Now, an England fan has been informed he wouldn’t be allowed to travel while live on the radio.

Heartbreak For England Supporter Before World Cup

Nathan Ray Seebeck (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

A Three Lions supporter, who has World Cup tickets, found out his Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) application had been refused. If that wasn’t bad enough news, he received the email while on a call into Nicky Campbell’s BBC Radio 5 show.

“Well, I’ve just had a thing come through on my ESTA from the American Embassy, and they’ve refused my entry to America because I went to Cuba on a cruise,” the supporter shared.

He then read out the message he had been sent. His 2025 trip to Cuba was the reason given for the refusal. He explained:

He claimed to be aware that his holiday last year would be a stumbling block, continuing: “And I thought that might be the case because I knew about Cuba. That’s why I tried to get rid of my World Cup tickets. But, yeah, it just shows you that’s how it goes.”

Listen to the full call below.

Donald Trump Rule Blocks England Fan

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, placed Cuba on his travel ban list and US laws state that anyone who has been to Cuba on or after 12 January 2021 must apply for a visa instead of an ESTA.

While unfortunate and falling victim to the strict entry rules in America, the supporter stated he was aware his ESTA would likely be rejected. He is now looking to sell his tickets for matches at the international competition.

The World Cup is back in the United States for just the second time in the tournament’s history, as 48 teams battle it out in the biggest competition to date. The USA are one of three hosts, alongside fellow North American teams Canada and Mexico, and will be hoping to put together an impressive run in front of their home crowd.

In preparation for the World Cup, the USMNT have brought in a top coach in the form of Mauricio Pochettino to try and get the most out of a squad that is ready to prove themselves. The 54-year-old has experienced plenty at the top of the game while in charge of Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, but international management is a new frontier, with an international tournament being a fresh challenge.

It all kicks off on June 13th for the USA, with a match against Paraguay in Los Angeles, before taking on Australia and Turkey in the rest of their group.

Pochettino joined GIVEMESPORT’s senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs for an exclusive chat on Market Madness after the World Cup draw in December. Here, GMS look back on Pochettino’s thoughts and expectations for the 2026 World Cup.

Pochettino’s Expectations for USMNT

Kirby Lee via Imagn Images via Reuters

What are your minimum expectations on the field for the tournament?

“It’s about winning, because I come from Argentina, and then I went to Europe, then England, and we are so competitive, it is in our blood. I know it’s going to be difficult, but our mentality, it’s about winning every single game and competing without fear and thinking we can beat any team.”

Does that mean you think you can win the entire tournament?

“It’s important to really believe that we can compete at our best. And then with our quality, we need to try to be intelligent in the way that we build the team to work out how we are going to compete. There are big teams – Spain, Argentina, England – I think we can be very competitive and create a very good team to compete. Winning depends on many factors, but the mentality is about winning. That is the culture that we are creating in the Federation.”

So what does success look like at the World Cup?

“For me, being successful is if you go right to the last day, in the final in New York, and you’re with your team and you have the possibility to win the trophy. Because we are competitive, and trying to win is in my blood. And even if sometimes people don’t believe that it’s possible, we want to make them feel that it’s possible.”

“I want to win and not think we’re being successful just by being there. For me, it’s about winning every single game; against Argentina, against England, against Spain. We are going to go into each game thinking that we can beat them.”

Do you have a fixed style and formation in mind or will USA take a fluid approach?

“The philosophy and style is never going to change. It’s a concept that we love, that is our identity and it is about respecting the football that we like to play. But as for the formation, yes, we are going to use different formations. We have been using different formations ahead of the tournament to try and provide the team with the flexibility to find the best performance, based on the characteristics of the players.

“I think it’s important for us to provide the formation that the players can feel most comfortable in on the pitch, and at the same time respect our identity and the way that we want to play.”We need to be flexible and very intelligent in the way that we are going to play, how we want to damage the opponent, and at the same time, how we organize to try and stop the opponent. I think that is the most important thing for me.”

Pochettino’s thoughts on reigning champions Argentina

Are your native Argentina the favourites for the World Cup?

“I believe that Lionel Messi is going to be ready to defend the title. Argentina are the best team in the world today. They have amazing players, and with Messi, they are even better. I think it is going to be tough to beat Argentina. It’s going to be a challenge. It’s not easy for Argentina to win another World Cup, two in a row is not going to be easy, but they are very solid and consistent.”

Will this be Messi’s last major tournament with Argentina?

“Who knows? It’s difficult to say. He said, maybe it’s the last one, but I don’t know. We’ll see, because he’s still in good form. When you watch the games in MLS he is scoring goals in every single game. So we’ll see. People can say ‘yes, maybe it’s the last one’, but maybe not.”

Football has been on a slow but steady rise in Canada in recent years, having produced an increasing amount of top talent making it to the shores of European clubs.

After first appearing at a World Cup in 1986, Canada ended a painful 36 years by returning to the grandest stage in football at Qatar 2022. The 2026 World Cup gives Canada the chance to bring the game within their own country to a whole new level; as hosts alongside Mexico and USA, the tournament will trigger a new generation of soccer fanatics desperate to emulate Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies.

GIVEMESPORT takes a look at the 15 greatest players to ever pull on the Canada jersey.

16

Alex Bunbury

Career Span: 1992-2000

Molly Riley via Reuters

One of Canada’s most prominent footballers before the turn of the century. The two-time Canadian player of the year earned 65 caps and scored 16 international goals, while also enjoying a lengthy spell in Portugal’s top flight with Maritimo after starting out at West Ham. Although his numbers don’t match those of a truly elite striker, Bunbury was an important figure for the national team throughout the 1990s and helped lay the foundations for future generations. He had a relatively short career and retired in 2000 after winning the MLS Cup with the Kansas City Wizards.

15

Jonathan Osorio

Career Span: 2013-Current

Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

Jonathan Osorio is Canada through and through. He’s been at Toronto FC for his whole club career, and now serves as their captain, accumulating over 400 club appearances. His finest hour at club level came in 2017, when he was central to Toronto’s historic treble. The MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield and Canadian Championship all in one season. Internationally, he made his debut for Les Rouges in his first professional season and was a key figure in the midfield engine that drove Canada to the 2022 World Cup.

14

Tomasz Radzinski

Career Span: 1994-2012

Born in Poland but raised in Canada, the quick, sharp striker fired Anderlecht to back-to-back Belgian titles before earning a £4.5 million move to Everton in 2001, a Canadian transfer record at the time. He spent three years at Goodison Park, scoring 25 Premier League goals, before moving on to Fulham. With 45 caps and 10 international goals across 14 years of service, he was Canada’s benchmark long before it became fashionable to follow football.

13

12

Cyle Larin

Career Span: 2015 – Current

Cyle Larin is Canada’s second all-time leading scorer. He’s been at the sharp end of Les Rouges’ rise for the best part of a decade. A powerful centre-forward with a poacher’s instinct, he was the key player in their 2022 World Cup qualification, finishing as top scorer in the CONCACAF qualifying campaign with 13 goals in 16 matches. He made his name in the MLS before taking his talents to Europe, winning the Turkish league with Besiktas and the Belgian title with Club Brugge, before moving to Spain, and most recently England, with Southampton.

11

Paul Stalteri

Career Span: 1997-2011

Paul Harding via Reuters

Before Canada’s current generation emerged, Paul Stalteri was proving that Canadian players could compete at the highest level in Europe. The defender enjoyed a successful career in Germany with Werder Bremen, helping the club win the Bundesliga title in 2004 before earning a move to the Premier League with Tottenham. Equally comfortable at full-back or in midfield, Stalteri became a mainstay for Canada and finished his international career with 85 caps. At a time when Canadian footballers were rarely seen in Europe’s top leagues, he helped pave the way for those who followed.

10

Carlo Corazzin

Career Span: 1992-2006

Beginning this list with Carlo Corazzin, the striker spent the majority of his career as an integral player for lower league clubs in the English divisions such as Cambridge United, Plymouth Argyle, Oldham Athletic, and Northampton Town during the 1990s and early 2000s. However, on English shores is not where the Canadian thrived the most, winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2000 for his nation while firing home four goals for his side during the process and earning himself the golden boot for the competition that year as well.

9

Junior Hoilett

Career Span: 2007-Current

Junior Hoilett spent a good chunk of his career at Premier League level with just shy of 200 games across a host of clubs. The attacker is one of the most exciting players to watch that has come from Canadian soil, combining pace with his flair and dribbling. Hoilett was creative and dangerous in his time at Cardiff City, Blackburn Rovers, and Queens Park Rangers. Making his debut for Canada in 2015, the versatile winger has amassed 69 appearances, setting the record for the most assists in the country’s history in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

8

Atiba Hutchinson

Career Span: 2002-2023

Playing for some big European clubs, Atiba Hutchinson would spend the majority of his career servicing for PSV, Copenhagen, and Besiktas. He was one of the most versatile and durable players in the game, playing matches in every outfield position, and retiring at 40. Making his international debut in 2003, Hutchinson managed a staggering 104 appearances for his nation, the most caps that any Canadian has made for the country, competing in five CONCACAF Gold Cups, and was awarded as Canada’s Men’s Player of the Year on six occasions, winning it three years in a row between 2014 and 2016.

7

Julian de Guzman

Career Span: 2002-2016

Making the third-most appearances for the Canadian national team (89), Julian de Guzman is known as a legend of the nation. During his career, the defensive midfielder would play in the Bundesliga, La Liga, and the MLS, most notably spending the largest portion of time in Spain at Deportivo La Coruna.

De Guzman possessed an engine that allowed him to cover ground in the midfield, using his ability in and out of possession to give his opponents issues, with great quality on the ball and a relentless nature without. Also winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup Most Valuable Player in 2007, he would go on to win the Men’s Canadian Player of the Year award only a year later in 2008.