Trump travel ban shuts door on Senegal, Ivory Coast fans ahead of 2026 World Cup
Donald Trump’s administration has introduced fresh travel restrictions that could prevent supporters from Senegal and Ivory Coast from attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.
Two more World Cup nations affected
Under a new proclamation signed on Tuesday, entry into the US will be suspended for nationals of Senegal and Ivory Coast for short-term visits, including tourism.
The measure effectively blocks fans from both countries from travelling to the US to attend World Cup matches.
The ban applies despite both nations qualifying for the tournament, taking the number of participating countries affected by US travel restrictions to four.
Trump’s administration bans Senegal and Ivory Coast from short visits to the United States – Getty image
Match locations offer limited relief
Senegal have been drawn in Group I alongside France, Norway and the winner of a playoff involving Bolivia, Iraq or Suriname.
Their fixtures against France and Norway are scheduled for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, while their playoff match will take place in Toronto, Canada, where the restrictions do not apply.
Ivory Coast face a similar scenario in Group E with Germany, Ecuador and Curacao.
Their matches against Ecuador and Curacao are set to be played in the US, while their clash with Germany will be staged in Canada.
Players exempt, fans shut out
Existing executive orders make exemptions for players, coaching staff and immediate family members, ensuring squads can still enter the US.
As a result, high-profile players such as Senegal’s Iliman Ndiaye and Nicolas Jackson, and Ivory Coast stars Amad Diallo and Evann Guessand, will not be affected.
However, the same exemptions do not extend to ordinary supporters, leaving tens of thousands of fans unable to follow their teams at US-hosted matches.
While the ban affects fans, players, coaching staff and officials are exempted – Getty image
Growing list of restricted nations
Senegal and Ivory Coast are among 15 countries added to the latest proclamation, expanding on an earlier list of 12 nations announced in June.
That initial list included World Cup qualifiers Iran and Haiti, whose supporters also face barriers to attending the tournament in the US.
The White House stated that exemptions remain in place for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, specific visa categories such as athletes and diplomats, and individuals whose entry is deemed to serve US national interests.
Fan concerns continue to mount
The travel bans add to growing concerns surrounding the US-hosted portion of the World Cup.
High ticket prices have already drawn criticism, prompting FIFA to introduce a limited £45 “supporter entry tier” ticket distributed through national associations.
That move has been widely criticised, with less than two per cent of seating allocations reportedly available at the reduced price, doing little to ease concerns for affected supporters.
With just months to go before the tournament kicks off on June 11, 2026, uncertainty continues to cloud the experience for many international fans hoping to attend matches in the United States.
