As preparations intensify for the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, a significant travel restriction implemented by the US government is poised to impact football fans from four qualified nations. The administration of former US President Donald Trump has enacted a ban preventing citizens from Iran, Haiti, Senegal, and Ivory Coast from entering the United States to attend the prestigious tournament.
The rationale behind these stringent measures is officially cited as the protection of US national security. All four countries have successfully secured their berths in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making the travel ban a direct obstacle for their supporters wishing to cheer on their teams on American soil.
These travel prohibitions, which officially came into effect on January 1, 2026, were initially introduced by then-President Trump in 2025. The restrictions, however, do not apply to legal permanent residents of the United States, individuals holding valid US visas, or diplomatic personnel. Crucially, while the policy broadly targets general citizens, an explicit exemption has been granted to players, coaches, and their immediate family members from the affected countries, allowing them to enter the US for the competition.
This policy means that football enthusiasts from Iran, Haiti, Senegal, and Ivory Coast will be unable to journey to the United States for any World Cup matches scheduled within its borders. The tournament itself is slated to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
The ban specifically targeting citizens from Haiti and Iran was explicitly announced by Donald Trump in 2025. Iran was among the first teams to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup through the Asian qualifiers, followed by Haiti, which secured an automatic qualification spot via the CONCACAF qualifiers. This automatic qualification for Haiti was facilitated as the co-host nations – the United States, Canada, and Mexico – were not included in those particular qualifying rounds.
From the African continent, both Senegal and Ivory Coast, having also qualified for the tournament, are subject to strict US travel limitations. However, unlike the comprehensive ban on Haitian and Iranian citizens, the restrictions on Senegal and Ivory Coast are described as partial, offering a slightly different scope of impact.
Significantly, the co-hosting nations of Canada and Mexico have not imposed any similar travel bans on citizens from these, or any other, countries. This offers a glimmer of hope for some affected fans. Supporters of Senegal, for instance, may still be able to attend their team’s third group stage match, which is reportedly scheduled to take place in Canada. Similarly, fans of Ivory Coast might have the opportunity to watch their team’s second group stage encounter, also slated for a Canadian venue.
However, the situation remains particularly challenging and regrettable for fans from Haiti and Iran. All three of their respective national teams’ group stage matches are currently scheduled to be held exclusively within the United States, thereby preventing their supporters from attending any of their opening World Cup fixtures.
