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By Dan Gooding
Associate News Editor
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A Scottish soccer fan’s long-planned trip to the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an abrupt halt at Manchester Airport after U.S. authorities revoked his travel authorization just one hour before departure, underscoring concern about last-minute U.S. travel authorization and visa decisions affecting some World Cup visitors.
Michael Wright had been preparing to fly from England to the U.S. to watch Scotland’s group-stage matches when his Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) status changed rapidly—from "approved" to "pending" and finally "travel not authorized," he told the BBC.
"There’s no valid reason for them to decline it," Wright said.
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But Wright’s experience is not isolated. As fans converge on the United States, Canada and Mexico for the expanded 48-team tournament, some travelers say their previously approved entry authorizations have been withdrawn at the last minute—sometimes with no explanation.
The State Department referred to the Department of Homeland Security when reached for comment.
“The Trump administration is enforcing immigration laws," A DHS spokesperson told Newsweek. "Under the Visa Waiver Program, all ESTA applications are continuously vetted against law enforcement and security databases. Travelers must provide complete and truthful information, including all criminal history.
"Failure to disclose arrests or convictions constitutes misrepresentation and can lead to ESTA denial, revocation, or a permanent bar from entering the United States. An approved ESTA does not guarantee admission. Individuals ineligible for the VWP due to criminal convictions or misrepresentation must apply for a visa.”
DHS did not give specific details on Wright's case.
Earlier this week, Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry to the U.S., with officials citing "vetting concerns."
The government has repeatedly said, when asked about visa revocations, that it is enforcing immigration laws more stringently.
Scottish Fan's ESTA Pulled: What To Know
Wright had moved to Australia nine years ago, but returned home for two weeks to see family before planning to fly out of Manchester, England, with his brother. He had applied for the ESTA in March, the BBC said.
"I live in what most people would say is the second hardest country in the world to get a visa. I've been living there nearly 10 years, reapplying for visas and completing police checks," Wright said of Australia. "They (the U.S. authorities) granted it originally so I'm not sure why they've decided to look back into it."
Speaking to the BBC, Wright said he had sent his brother through security gates at the airport in Manchester alone.
"I don't think I've ever felt that bad," he said.
Scotland's First Minister John Swinney said he had contacted U.S. authorities to see if they could reverse the decision and rectify the situation for others affected.
The case comes amid other recent reports of Scotland fans seeing ESTA approvals rescinded shortly before planned travel.
Some Scottish supporters have said their status changed within hours—from valid approval to denial—forcing them to scramble for emergency appointments at U.S. embassies or consulates.
Scotland open their campaign on Sunday with a match against Haiti in Boston, and will also face Brazil and Morocco in the competition's group stage.
Why This Matters Now
The timing of revocations like Wright's—days or even hours before departure—raises questions about transparency and predictability in the system, particularly for large events like the World Cup.
Travelers typically book flights, accommodation and match tickets months in advance, assuming that an approved ESTA means they are cleared to travel. But recent cases show that approval does not eliminate risk.
The U.S. Embassy in the United Kingdom advises that travelers whose ESTA is denied or revoked must apply for a visa and attend an in-person interview, a process that can take weeks or longer.
That leaves little recourse for those caught in last-minute reversals—especially during peak travel periods.
What Happens Next
For Wright and others affected, options are limited. The most immediate path is to apply for a traditional visa through a U.S. consulate—often requiring expedited appointments and uncertain outcomes.
Meanwhile, governments and organizers face pressure to ensure the World Cup remains accessible to international fans. FIFA has introduced programs like priority visa appointment scheduling for ticket holders, but these do not apply to all travelers and cannot override security decisions.
The broader question—whether last-minute ESTA revocations will continue at scale—remains unresolved.
What is an ESTA?
While the individual reasons behind Wright’s case remain unclear, official guidance suggests that ESTA approvals are not permanent guarantees and can change at any time.
The ESTA program allows citizens of countries in the Visa Waiver Program to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without applying for a full visa.
Crucially, ESTA is not a visa and does not guarantee entry into the United States. It only permits travelers to board a carrier bound for the country, with final admission decided at the border.
The system requires applicants to submit personal and background information online, which is then screened by U.S. authorities. An approved authorization is typically valid for two years or until the associated passport expires, though it can be revoked earlier.
Currently, the program costs visitors $40, compared to the standard U.S. tourist visa (B1/B2), which costs at least $185.
But that involves a more detailed application process, an interview, and significantly higher fees—conditions that have led some travelers to rely on ESTA instead.
Under U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rules, ESTA applications are continuously vetted against immigration, law enforcement and security databases, even after approval.
Administrations can pick and choose which countries can participate, and if it is determined that travelers from a country pose an elevated risk to national security, they can be removed from the program.
Correction, 06/11/26, 7:15 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to add more context about ESTA authorizations. The headline has also been changed to correct a reference to a visa; the issue involved an ESTA authorization.
Update 6/11/26, 10:05 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from DHS.
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