Trump’s travel ban leaves fans of Senegal and Ivory Coast in limbo for the World Cup

Fans of two of Africa’s top footballing nations have had their World Cup plans on hold due to a travel ban imposed by the Trump administration.

Senegal and Ivory Coast were added in December to the list of countries with partial entry restrictions to the United States, where, along with Canada and Mexico, the tournament will be held from June 11 to July 19.

Fans cheering on the two West African teams at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco were left stunned by the restrictions, which effectively ban those who do not yet have visas from traveling to the US to attend the World Cup.

«I don’t know why the American president would want teams from certain countries not to participate. If that is the case, they should not agree to host the World Cup,» said Senegal supporter Djibril Gueye. The Associated Press in Tangier, Morocco.

“It is up to the United States to provide the conditions, the resources and the means to give the qualified countries the opportunity to support their team,” Gueye said.

President Donald Trump cited “deficiencies in screening and vetting” as the primary reason for the suspensions. Fans from Iran and Haiti, two other countries that have qualified for the World Cup, will also be denied entry into the United States; they were included in the first version of the travel ban announced by the Trump administration.

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The restrictions include an exception for players, team officials and immediate family members traveling to the World Cup, but supporters are not taken into account.

“We really want to participate, but we don’t know how,” said Fatou Diedhiou, the chairman of a group of female Senegal fans. «Now we just wait, because the World Cup is not here yet, maybe they will change their minds. We don’t know. We just wait.»

Sheikh Sy supported Senegal at the last World Cup in Qatar and was determined to find a way to get to the US

“We have traveled everywhere with our team because we are the national fans of Senegal,” he said. “So now that Senegal has qualified for the World Cup, we absolutely have to go.”

Senegal, who have reached the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations, will play their first World Cup match at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey against France on June 16, four days before they face Norway at the same stadium. The final group stage match is on June 26 in Toronto against a play-off winner between Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq.

Ivory Coast also has two games in the US, opening against Ecuador in Philadelphia on June 14 and closing the group there against Curaçao on June 25, after facing Germany in Toronto.

Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé was optimistic that a solution could be found for the supporters. He pointed out that Ivorian fans faced a similar hurdle in going to Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations when a visa requirement was introduced before the tournament.

«In the end everything went very smoothly and they were able to come as long as they had tickets to see the matches. I think everything will be sorted out around the time of the World Cup,» Faé said. The AP at the team hotel in Marrakech.

«It’s a party, football is a party, and for me it would be a real shame. Especially because the World Cup only takes place once every four years. It would be a real shame not to let our supporters experience this party,» said Faé.

Senegal and Ivory Coast face the prospect of playing only with limited support from fans who are legal U.S. residents, already have visas or have dual citizenship with countries not covered by the travel ban.

Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande said there was little the players could do. “It’s not their country, and their focus is solely on what happens on the pitch.

“It’s okay for us, we can play without fans,” Diomande said The AP. “The most important thing is to win every match and fight for every match.”

Team captain Franck Kessie agreed, saying it is up to politics to find a solution.

“There is also an events committee managed by the Ivorian Football Federation, so I think we will do things together with the government to make it easier for our supporters,” Kessie said.

The travel ban is not the only obstacle fans of Ivory Coast and Senegal will face if they want to go to the World Cup.

A fan wearing a lion mask for Senegal said he can travel to the US because he also has French citizenship, but he won’t do so out of «a matter of political conviction» and because of the high cost of tickets.

«I get the impression that it’s all about business. They completely ignored the grassroots aspect,» said the fan, who gave his name simply as Pape.

Ivorian supporter Tan Detopeu said during a speech in Casablanca that she feared the team would receive little support in the US because few Ivorian supporters could afford the tickets.

“Even if there was no ban problem, I don’t think many people would have gone to the World Cup because it is quite expensive,” Detopeu said.

Published on January 13, 2026