As the 2026 World Cup semifinal between Argentina and England approaches, some Argentine fans who traveled to Atlanta to watch the match may discover they are unable to enter the stadium on Wednesday.

Argentine parents who have repeatedly failed to pay child support have been barred from attending the 2026 World Cup — even if they already purchased tickets. They are also not entitled to a refund.

Ahead of the tournament, Argentine authorities shared with the United States — host of most of the competition’s matches — a list of 13,000 nationals, the vast majority of them fathers, who owe child support.

Those debtors are already banned from entering football stadiums in Argentina. Now, the restriction also applies to World Cup venues.

Since March 2025, Buenos Aires City began implementing a system in which those people registered as owing child support can no longer enter football games or concerts.

In May, the national government signed a cooperation agreement with them to extend stadium bans for child support debtors across the country as part of a program called “Safe Stands” (Tribuna Segura).

Pusimos a disposición de Estados Unidos la base de datos de Tribuna Segura para reforzar la seguridad del Mundial 2026. Si estás en esa lista, no viajes, no vas a poder ingresar a los estadios. pic.twitter.com/huG5CtdkMU— Alejandra Monteoliva (@AleMonteoliva) May 15, 2026

Pusimos a disposición de Estados Unidos la base de datos de........

© Buenos Aires Herald