Absurdity at the 2026 World Cup. Senegal photographer denied visa and ‘shoots’ match from hotel TV

The organizational and visa chaos at the 2026 World Cup continues to wreak havoc for tournament participants, but some are finding the most absurd yet bittersweet ways to cope with the situation.

Details: According to Romain Molino, the Senegal national team photographer, Sidi Tallah, was unable to travel with the squad to Canada for a crucial match against Iraq. The reason was a simple denial of a multiple-entry U.S. visa, leaving him effectively “trapped” on U.S. soil without the ability to cross the Canadian border and return to the team’s camp.

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Still, Sidi displayed incredible dedication to his craft. The photographer donned his official FIFA accreditation bib right in his hotel room, set up his professional lens, and started “shooting” his beloved team’s match simply by photographing the live action on his TV screen.

This situation once again highlights the harsh logistical and visa challenges between the World Cup host nations.

It’s worth noting that Senegal’s match against Iraq ended in a comfortable 5-0 victory for the Africans.

For the record: Senegal set an all-time African record at the World Cup.