‘Treated like criminals’: US, FIFA under fire for humiliating Senegal and Uzbekistan teams

NEW YORK: The United States and FIFA are facing criticism after reports that national football teams from Senegal and Uzbekistan were subjected to unusually strict security procedures upon arrival for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

According to reports circulating online, members of the Senegal national team were required to undergo extremely detailed baggage inspections directly on the airport tarmac in San Antonio. Separately, Uzbekistan’s squad reportedly faced drug-sniffing dogs and metal detector checks upon arrival at their training facility in New York.

Images and videos of the screenings quickly spread across social media, prompting widespread debate over whether the treatment of the teams was appropriate for visiting World Cup participants.

Many football fans expressed concern over what they perceived as excessive or unnecessary security procedures for international athletes taking part in a global sporting event.

One user wrote, “Did any white teams get treated like this, or is this treatment reserved for Senegal? Bizarre,” questioning whether similar checks were applied uniformly across teams.

Another user reacted by saying, “Why are they being treated like criminals,” reflecting broader frustration over the nature of the inspections.

Criticism was also directed at FIFA, with users accusing the governing body of failing to respond publicly to the reports or clarify the security protocols being applied.

As of now, neither FIFA nor US authorities have issued an official statement addressing the concerns raised online.