Senegal Football Federation Addresses Security Check Controversy Ahead of World Cup 2026

The Senegalese Football Federation released an official statement on Tuesday evening to clarify the circumstances surrounding the security checks undergone by the national team, including coaching staff, at an airport in the United States.

The federation explained that a video circulating on social media, which showed players and coaching staff undergoing security checks, was part of standard organizational procedures aimed at expediting and facilitating travel.

According to the statement, the security checks did not occur upon arrival in San Antonio as rumored, but rather during the team’s boarding process at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Sunday, June 7, 2026, just before their flight departure.

The federation noted that the bus transporting the team went directly to the airport tarmac where players and coaching staff underwent security and police checks at the aircraft without needing to navigate through regular airport procedures.

It emphasized that this measure was intended to streamline transportation and speed up boarding onto their private flight to San Antonio while fully complying with all airport security and safety regulations. The federation asserted that no unusual incidents were reported during this process.

In conclusion, the Senegalese Football Federation reiterated that the journey proceeded smoothly and all members of the delegation arrived at their destination without any issues.