The international delegations arriving in North America for the major soccer event are encountering a much stricter situation than expected. Security has been intensified to levels that have caught many attendees by surprise, especially due to the forcefulness of the inspections that are being carried out at entry points and in the vicinity of stadiums.
One of the elements generating the most discussion is the constant presence of canine units specialized in detecting prohibited substances and materials. These measures are not limited to the usual security arches, but also include direct tracking of luggage and the personal belongings of the footballers, something that has generated scenes rarely seen before in tournaments of this magnitude.
Ski-in/ski-out checks and discomfort on expeditions
At San Antonio Airport in Texas, one of the most talked-about situations unfolded when the Senegalese national team arrived at their base of operations. Images captured show how customs agents conducted a thorough check of the players as soon as they disembarked the aircraft, notably the case of Pathé Ciss, a midfielder for Rayo Vallecano, who had to wait while the others... Tracking dogs examined their bundles by hand on the runway.
This procedure has been described by some sectors as excessive, since it is customary for these types of procedures to be carried out within airport facilities and not in such an exposed manner. The fact that the professional players go through these filters The strict measures taken upon arrival in the country have sparked debate about whether the line is being crossed between prevention and unnecessary discomfort for the event's participants.
The situation in New York and the complaints of the technicians
Meanwhile, the Uzbekistan national team was also subjected to a similar security operation before a friendly match in New York City. Upon arrival at the stadium, the entire team was forced to disembark from the bus so that security personnel could create a corridor where they could proceed. police dogs inspected them one by one all the bags and materials of the technical staff before allowing them access to the changing rooms.
Fabio Cannavaro, the legendary former footballer who now manages the Uzbek national team, didn't mince words when expressing his astonishment to the media. The Italian coach emphasized that, while he understands there are rules to follow, he found it striking that a deployment of such magnitude It was applied in such a focused way to his team, which generated a feeling of bewilderment among his players in the moments before the game.
Some reports suggest that this heightened security in cities like New York could be due to its coinciding with other events of great political and sporting significance, which necessitates maintaining a much stricter security perimeter of normal. However, for the affected delegations, these explanations do little to alleviate the feeling that the protocols are somewhat disproportionate compared to other editions of the tournament.
The start of the official competition will determine whether these strict controls remain the norm or if they were merely an initial logistical adjustment phase. What seems clear is that coexistence between the rigor of border agents And the teams' routines will be one of the topics that will generate discussion throughout the teams' stay in the host countries.
