Fears of widespread disruption at this summer's FIFA World Cup have erupted following a controversial new visa ban announced by Donald Trump's administration. Supporters from over a dozen qualified nations now worry they could be turned away at the US border.
What the US Visa Ban Means for Travellers
This week, the White House declared an "indefinite pause" on processing immigrant visas from citizens of 75 countries. Officials stated the move, targeting nations including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and Somalia, aims to "end abuse" of the American welfare system by those likely to "extract wealth" from it.
The policy forms part of President Trump's wider immigration crackdown, which has intensified since his return to office a year ago. However, the list crucially includes 14 countries that have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
World Cup Nations Caught in the Crossfire
The affected footballing nations on the visa ban list are: Algeria, Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Uruguay, and Uzbekistan. The United Kingdom is not impacted.
In response to the growing alarm, a US State Department official moved to clarify the situation. They told the Mirror that the ban applies "to the issuance of immigrant visas only" and does not cover nonimmigrant visas used by tourists, athletes, media, and families travelling for the World Cup.
Activists and Fans Voice Outrage Over 'Hostile' Message
Despite the official clarification, human rights groups and fans remain deeply concerned. They argue the massive visa system overhaul could cause severe delays for all applications as consulate staff are retrained, with nonimmigrant requests facing tougher vetting.
Daniel Norona, Americas advocacy director at Amnesty International USA, warned: "We are concerned that this will create a non-welcoming and overall hostile environment for the fans... You cannot have unity if you're promoting discrimination."
Senegalese fan Djibril Gueye told Al Jazeera, "It's up to the United States to provide the conditions... If the U.S. is barring certain visitors, then the country shouldn't agree to host the World Cup."
Cambridge academic Jostein Hague echoed this on social media, stating the US is "deliberately slamming the door on people from dozens of countries while preparing to host a global sporting event", sending a "blatantly hostile message."
The FIFA Pass and Entry Guarantees
In a previous attempt to streamline the process, President Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino unveiled a 'FIFA Pass' in November 2025. This scheme allows fans with official tickets to get priority visa interview appointments.
Standing in the Oval Office, Infantino said, "If you have a ticket for the World Cup, you can have prioritised appointments to get your visa." He recalled Trump's earlier assurance that "America welcomes the world."
However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was present, was quick to temper expectations. He emphasised that "the ticket is not a visa" and does not guarantee entry, noting, "We’re going to do the same vetting as anybody else would get - the only difference here is, we’re moving them up in the queue."
The State Department has said more details on the FIFA Pass will be released early this year, as the football world watches anxiously to see if the beautiful game will be marred by border politics.
