Fans of Africa’s two top soccer nations have had their plans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup changed due to a travel ban imposed by Donald Trump’s US administration.
In December, Senegal and Ivory Coast were added to the list of countries that will partially restrict entry to the United States from June 11 to July 19, joining Canada and Mexico.
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Fans rooting for two West African teams at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco were left disappointed by restrictions that effectively bar anyone who does not already have a visa from traveling to the United States to watch the World Cup.
“I don’t understand why the American president would want teams from certain countries not to participate. If that’s the case, he shouldn’t agree to host the World Cup,” Djibril Gueye, a Senegalese supporter, told The Associated Press in Tangier, Morocco.
“It’s up to the United States to provide the conditions, means and resources so that all eligible countries can go and cheer on their teams,” Gueye said.
President Donald Trump cited “deficiencies in testing and vetting” as the main reason for the suspension. Fans from Iran and Haiti, two other countries that qualified for the World Cup, will also be barred from entering the United States. They were included in the first travel ban announced by the Trump administration.
The restrictions include exceptions for players, team personnel and immediate family members traveling to the World Cup, but do not cover supporters.
“We really want to participate, but we don’t know how,” said Fatou Diediou, president of a group of Senegalese women fans. “Now we just have to wait, because the World Cup hasn’t come yet. Maybe they change their mind. We don’t know. We’ll wait and see.”
Sheikh Sy cheered for Senegal at the last World Cup in Qatar and was determined to find a way to get to the United States.
“We are national fans of Senegal, so we traveled everywhere with the team,” he said. “Now that Senegal has qualified for the World Cup, we absolutely have to go.”
hoping for a solution
Senegal, who have advanced to the Africa Cup semi-finals, will play their first World Cup match against France on June 16 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, before playing Norway four days earlier at the same stadium. The final group stage game will be played in Toronto on June 26th against the playoff winners of Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq.
Ivory Coast also has two games scheduled in the United States, opening against Ecuador in Philadelphia on June 14, then facing Germany in Toronto before completing the group against Curacao on June 25.
Ivory Coast coach Emers Faye was optimistic a solution could be found for supporters. He noted that Ivorian fans faced similar hurdles to travel to Morocco for the Africa Cup when visa requirements were introduced ahead of the tournament.
“In the end everything went very smoothly and they could come as long as they had a ticket to watch the game. I think things will be resolved by the World Cup,” Fay told The Associated Press at the team hotel in Marrakech.
“This is a celebration, football is a celebration, and for me it would be a real shame not to let our supporters experience this celebration, especially because the World Cup only comes around once every four years,” Fay said.
limited support
Senegal and Ivory Coast face the prospect of playing with only limited support from fans who either legally reside in the United States, already have visas or have dual citizenship with countries not affected by the travel ban.
Ivorian winger Yan Diomande said there was little the players could do. It’s not their country, their focus is only on what happens on the field.
“It’s fine for us. We can play without supporters,” Diomande told The Associated Press. “The most important thing is to win every game and fight in every game.”
Team captain Franck Kessier agreed, saying it was up to politicians to find a solution.
“There is also an event committee run by the Ivorian Football Federation, so we would like to work with the government to make it easier for supporters to participate,” Kessier said.
high cost
The travel ban is not the only hurdle facing Ivorian and Senegalese fans hoping to qualify for the World Cup.
One fan, who wore a lion mask to represent Senegal, said he could travel to the United States because he also has French citizenship, but would not do so because of “a matter of political beliefs” and the high cost of tickets.
“I have the impression that everything is about the business world. They completely ignored the grassroots side,” said a fan who gave his name simply as Pappu.
Tan Detopeu, an Ivorian supporter who spoke in Casablanca, said he feared the team would have little support in the United States because few Ivorian supporters could afford tickets.
“Even if there was no ban issue, I don’t think many people would go to the World Cup because it’s expensive,” Detopou said.
