Trump expands travel bans as 2026 World Cup approaches

December 17, 2025 Oliver Obel

With less than a year until the 2026 World Cup, new US immigration restrictions are raising questions about how international fans will access the tournament.

President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation expanding existing US travel bans, affecting several countries whose national teams are scheduled to compete when the World Cup begins next summer.

The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada and will feature a record 104 matches across 16 cities. Eleven venues are located in the United States, where organisers expect the majority of visiting supporters to attend games.

Additional countries affected

According to a proclamation released by the White House this week, five more countries have been added to the US travel ban, while citizens of 15 others now face partial entry restrictions or heightened screening requirements.

Ivory Coast and Senegal, both of which have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, are among those affected. The order suspends entry to the United States for nationals of both countries as immigrants and non-immigrants, including those travelling on short-term visas typically used for tourism or business.

The latest measures build on restrictions announced in June, when the administration imposed full entry bans on citizens of 12 countries and partial limits on seven others. The White House said the policies are intended to strengthen US entry standards.

Fans excluded from exemptions

While previous executive orders included exemptions for players, coaching staff and immediate family members connected to the tournament, those exemptions do not apply to travelling supporters.

Nationals from Iran and Haiti whose teams are also expected to take part in the World Cup are already subject to US travel restrictions.

The proclamation also expands full entry bans to Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria. Travel using Palestinian Authority-issued documents has been fully restricted, according to the administration.

Pressure on organisers

The expanded bans have renewed scrutiny of the United States’ role as the tournament’s primary host. Past World Cup hosts have typically coordinated visa access to accommodate fans from qualified nations, though FIFA has not commented publicly on the latest measures.

Senegal have been drawn into Group I alongside France, Norway and a play-off qualifier, while Ivory Coast will compete in Group E against Ecuador, Curaçao and Germany. It remains unclear how many supporters from those countries will be able to attend matches hosted in the US.

As preparations continue, organisers may face growing pressure to clarify how US travel policy will align with the World Cup’s global audience.

Sources: White House proclamations and official administration statements