When Iraq qualified for the World Cup for only the second time since 1986, Abdulla Adnan bought tickets for his country's matches against Norway and France in Boston and Philadelphia. 'To go to a match, a stadium, a crowd, cheering, and see my team – that is worth the world to me,' he told the BBC. But after spending about $1,800 on tickets and a trip to neighbouring Jordan to apply for a US visa, he was turned away because he is not a Jordanian citizen. With no US consular services in Iraq – suspended after the US-Israel war with Iran – and a two-week wait for an application in Turkey, he has given up.
Adnan is not alone. Analysis by the BBC World Service shows that fans from more than a quarter of the countries taking part in the World Cup face travel bans, tighter restrictions or high visa rejection rates. Donald Trump's travel ban list includes four competing nations – Haiti, Iran, Senegal and Ivory Coast – barring their citizens from the visitor visa recommended for fans. Strict immigration policies and a clampdown on undocumented migrants were central to Trump's 2024 re-election campaign, with US authorities arguing the system must be rigorous due to the huge flow of people crossing the country's borders.
“Iraqi fan gives up on World Cup after US visa rejection; Iran team and fans from a quarter of competing nations face bans.”
Julien Kouadio Adonis, from the Ivory Coast's fan association, told the BBC: 'It's a form of segregation that doesn't dare speak its name, but the proof is there. No European country has faced this kind of restriction. Why Africa?' His association normally sends a group of fans to the World Cup but decided not to bother even trying to go.
Iran's football team has been hit hard. All three of Iran's group games are in the United States, but players and staff were forced to land in Mexico over ongoing visa issues and must fly in and out of the US on the day of each match. Iran said 15 officials and other staff were denied visas outright, branding it political interference. A US administration official responded: 'We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences.'
The visa recommended for fans costs around £137 and requires an in-person interview, where applicants must demonstrate their 'intent to depart the United States after your trip, and/or your ability to pay all costs of the trip'. The Department of Homeland Security's main concern appears to be fans who may overstay: more than 538,000 'overstay events' were documented between 2023 and 2024. For fans like Adnan, the dream of cheering their team in a US stadium is out of reach.