World Cup: Trump’s new travel ban threatens Senegal and Ivory Coast fans

Fans of Senegal and Ivory Coast are at risk of being denied United States visas for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a new travel‑ban restriction imposed by the government.

US president, Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing partial travel bans on Senegal and Ivory Coast, adding them to a list of restricted countries that already includes Haiti and Iran on December 16, 2025.

The proclamation suspends entry into the US for Ivory Coast and Senegal nationals, both immigrants and non‑immigrants, including those applying for visitor visas for business or tourism, the category required for fans attending the World Cup.

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As with previous executive orders issued by President Trump, the latest travel ban includes exemptions for athletes, support staff, and the immediate relatives of those competing at the World Cup, but not for travelling fans.

Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the 2026 World Cup task force, explained that the measure is intended to protect US security, though he could not confirm whether exceptions would be made for fans from the affected countries.

“First and foremost, safety and security is the No. 1 thing when it comes to this World Cup. Every visa decision is a national security decision. That’s key to highlight. The president, even in his restricted‑countries order, still gave an exemption to players, direct support staff, and immediate family for those countries on the list.

“So specifically, Iran and Haiti right now would still be able to compete while understanding that we want to make sure this is a safe and secure World Cup. I probably won’t comment any more in terms of what countries he could be considering or not considering,” he told The Athletic.

At the World Cup, Senegal have been drawn in Group I alongside France, Norway, and a yet‑to‑be‑determined playoff winner. Senegal’s matches against France and Norway are scheduled for the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with other fixtures set for Toronto, Canada.

Ivory Coast, meanwhile, are in Group E with Ecuador and Curaçao, with games scheduled at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and another in Toronto.

It remains unknown whether fans from Ivory Coast and Senegal will be granted exceptions to obtain visas to support their teams.

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