As the 2026 World Cup approaches, expanded U.S. travel restrictions announced by President Donald Trump are affecting several countries whose national teams are set to compete in the tournament.
The World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the majority of matches scheduled to take place in U.S. cities. As a result, American immigration policy will directly influence which international supporters are able to attend games on U.S. soil.
World Cup nations facing U.S. travel bans or restrictions
According to a proclamation issued by the White House, the following countries whose teams have qualified for the 2026 World Cup are currently subject to U.S. travel bans or entry restrictions:
- Ivory Coast — full suspension of entry for citizens travelling to the United States as immigrants or non-immigrants, including for tourism and business.
- Senegal — full suspension of entry for citizens travelling to the United States as immigrants or non-immigrants, including for tourism and business.
- Iran — subject to existing U.S. travel restrictions introduced prior to the latest proclamation.
- Haiti — subject to existing U.S. travel restrictions that remain in force.
The measures affect supporters seeking to attend World Cup matches held in the United States.
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Exemptions for teams, not fans
The Trump administration has said that existing executive orders include exemptions for players, coaching staff and immediate family members connected to the World Cup. Reuters has reported that these exemptions were designed to ensure that the tournament itself can proceed.
However, the exemptions do not apply to fans. Supporters from the affected countries would still be barred from entering the United States, although they may be able to attend matches staged in Mexico or Canada.
Other countries added to the ban list
In the same announcement, the White House confirmed that the following countries were added to the list of nations facing a full U.S. entry ban, though they are not currently qualified for the World Cup:
- Burkina Faso
- Mali
- Niger
- South Sudan
- Syria
The administration also said that travel using Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents has been fully restricted.
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World Cup preparations continue
On the sporting side, Senegal have been drawn into Group I alongside France, Norway and the winner of a playoff involving Bolivia, Iraq or Suriname. Ivory Coast will compete in Group E against Ecuador, Curaçao and Germany.
As preparations continue, the growing list of travel restrictions has raised questions about how accessible the tournament will be for supporters from parts of Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.
Sources: White House, Reuters
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