President Donald Trump has expanded his travel ban to include Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, both of which will compete in the 2026 World Cup. The two African nations were added to the list of 39 countries under partial restrictions, the least severe category of the ban.
The White House cited high visa overstay rates as the reason for the inclusion. According to the Department of Homeland Security, around 4% of Senegalese and 8% of Ivorian visitors on B1 or B2 visas overstay, the type of visa travelling fans would need for the World Cup.
Athletes, along with diplomats and those deemed in the US national interest, are exempt from the ban. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, begins on 11 June. Senegal are in Group I with France, Norway and a European playoff winner, while Côte d’Ivoire are in Group E alongside Germany, Curaçao and Ecuador.
The Trump administration’s World Cup taskforce earlier introduced a fast-track visa system for ticket holders, but it remains unclear how this will apply to applicants from banned countries. The tournament has faced controversy over both US immigration policy and FIFA’s dynamic pricing of tickets.
