LAUSANNE, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The president of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) has urged FIFA to intervene for journalists facing visa denials and restrictions ahead of the 2026 World Cup, warning that many accredited colleagues have already lost plane tickets and face mounting costs.

This photo taken on June 4, 2026 shows the Toronto Stadium decked in official 2026 FIFA World Cup-themed wraps in Toronto, Canada. (Photo: Xinhua)

In a letter addressed to FIFA's director of media relations Bryan Swanson, AIPS president Gianni Merlo expressed concern over what he described as a growing and unacceptable problem involving entry visas for accredited journalists seeking to cover the tournament.

"In this difficult time for the entire world, on the eve of the futuristic 2026 FIFA World Cup, we find ourselves facing a long-standing and unacceptable problem for us journalists: the denial of entry visas to regularly accredited colleagues," Merlo wrote.

According to Merlo, journalists from several regions, including Iran and parts of Africa, have encountered difficulties obtaining visas. Some reporters have reportedly been granted only single-entry visas, creating complications for those planning to follow their home teams across the tournament's three host countries.

The 2026 World Cup, the first to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will require teams, fans and media to move frequently across international borders during the competition.

Merlo said journalists holding single-entry visas could be prevented from re-entering the United States if they travel to Canada or Mexico.

"The cases are countless and, I repeat, unacceptable," he wrote.

"Politicians always say that sport unites and builds bridges between young people in countries in conflict, but in this case, we are going in the opposite direction."

"We believe it is important to allow colleagues to attend the event and work, because their presence will be crucial to the image of sport and what it represents, especially in a country like the United States of America, where freedom of the press is a must," he wrote.

The AIPS president also warned that visa delays are already creating financial burdens. He said some reporters have lost the opportunity to use airline tickets purchased in advance and may now face significantly higher travel costs.

"I hope FIFA can do everything possible to secure visas," Merlo wrote. "We're already significantly behind schedule, and many colleagues have already lost the opportunity to use plane tickets booked on time, and they'll also face significant additional expenses."

FIFA has not publicly commented on the concerns raised in the letter.

The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 11 and will feature an expanded 48-team field, making it the largest edition in the tournament's history.