How will Trump’s new travel ban impact 2026 World Cup?
A sweeping travel ban announced by the Trump administration on Wednesday, June 4, may put a dent in the idea expressed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino that “the world is welcome in America” for the 2026 World Cup. The ban, which goes into effect on Monday, June 9, will restrict access to the U.S. for at least a dozen countries.
Which countries are affected by the travel ban?
On the “fully restricted list” are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The ban covers the entry of both immigrants and nonimmigrants alike.
President Donald Trump’s announcement on Wednesday, June 4, cited several factors as to why these countries are on the list. Among those issues are a country’s alleged ties to terrorism, poor screening and vetting procedures and a history of people overstaying their visas.
“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States,” Trump said.
How does this affect countries who qualify for the World Cup?
This will almost certainly affect fans coming to the U.S. for the 2026 World Cup, the 2028 Olympic Games and several other major sporting events. Iran is the only nation on the fully banned list to have already qualified for the World Cup.
Unbiased. Straight Facts.TM
48 teams will qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Iran is the only nation on the “fully restricted” travel ban list to qualify so far.
The administration describes Iran as “a state sponsor of terrorism,” but there is an exemption written into the executive order for “any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State.”
The order says nothing about friends or fans of those athletes and teams. There are also seven countries on a partially restricted list, including Venezuela, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo and Turkmenistan.
Venezuela could still qualify for the World Cup and has several athletes playing in MLS and Major League Baseball. It’s unclear whether those players can travel back and forth for visits to their home country under the ban. The State Department has yet to define what qualifies as a “major sporting event” outside the World Cup and Olympics.
In addition to Venezuela, countries like Haiti, Sudan and Libya are still alive in their respective World Cup qualifying tournaments. FIFA has not publicly responded to the administration’s ban, though they were present at the initial White House World Cup task force meeting in May.
Who is speaking out against the ban?
During an appearance on MSNBC, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut called the travel ban announcement a distraction, meant to draw attention away from the administration’s budget bill currently working its way through Congress.
“Anytime you ban people coming to the United States from other countries, it has a real impact,” Sen. Murphy said. “But it is chiefly in service of trying to get us all talking about that, or talking about the Biden investigation they launched today, instead of talking about the centerpiece of this story, which is this bill.”
U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., released a statement condemning the ban as discriminatory.
“There are a myriad of reasons that people come to the United States, from travel and tourism to fleeing violent and dangerous situations,” Jayapal said. “This ban will only further isolate us on the world stage.”
What will happen next for people hoping to enter the US?
Adding to the uncertainty, the president left the door open for more changes to the executive order, which could come at any time.
“The list is subject to revision based on whether material improvements are made,” Trump said. “And likewise, new countries can be added as threats emerge around the world.”
What remains unclear is how long it will take for the State Department to process visas and green cards, as well as the exemptions allowed under the executive order. Teams, athletes and their family members may be subject to vetting in the coming days and weeks.
World Cup qualifying continues around the world, and the FIFA Club World Cup starts on June 14, 2026, in eleven cities across the U.S.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
