Haiti's historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup could be overshadowed by a US travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump, preventing fans from attending matches. The Caribbean nation secured its place in the tournament for only the second time on Tuesday, topping a qualifying group that included Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
In June, Trump signed an executive order banning nationals from 12 countries, including Haiti, from entering the US, citing national security and public safety concerns. The order specifically mentions Haiti's high visa overstay rates and the influx of 'hundreds of thousands of illegal Haitian aliens' during the Biden administration.
However, an exemption allows athletes and team staff for major sporting events like the World Cup to travel, meaning players such as Wolves' Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Burnley's Hannes Delcroix should be able to compete. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has previously stated there would be 'no World Cup' if fans of any team were denied access, though he later expressed confidence that America would welcome all.
Haiti has been plagued by political instability and gang violence since President Jovenel Moise's assassination in 2021, forcing the national team to play home matches in Curacao. The US is home to an estimated 852,000 Haitian immigrants, many of whom could support the team from within the country. Iran is the only other qualified nation affected by the travel ban.
