Fact-checking claims that Senegal’s football team were treated like ‘criminals’ at US airport

Summary

Kicking off this Thursday, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has seen a fair share of criticism, before having begun. A new viral video has triggered more backlash, showing Senegal's national team being searched on the tarmac of a US airport with metal detectors, which internet users claimed shows the players "treated like criminals" and "unapologetic racism." There's also a photo of the coach undergoing the same treatment. But how real are these images?