Abdulla Adnan, an Iraqi fan, bought tickets to see his country play at the World Cup for the first time since 1986. He then spent $1,800 on a trip to Jordan to apply for a US visa—only to be told he couldn't get one because he wasn't a Jordanian citizen. He has now given up. Adnan is one of many fans from more than a quarter of the 48 countries taking part in the 2026 World Cup who are facing travel bans, tighter visa restrictions or high rejection rates, according to an analysis by the BBC World Service. The tournament is being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, but the vast majority of matches—including all knockout rounds—are in the US, meaning fans from affected nations must navigate a system they say is stacked against them.
At the heart of the controversy is President Donald Trump's travel ban list, which includes four World Cup nations: Haiti, Iran, Senegal and Ivory Coast. Citizens of those countries are barred from receiving the type of visitor visa that US authorities recommend for football fans. Others, like Iraq, are not on the list but face practical obstacles: after the US-Israel war with Iran, the US suspended routine consular services in Iraq, leaving no place for Iraqis to attend the in-person interview required for a visa. Even players have been affected. Members of Iran's national team were forced to land in Mexico because of visa issues, and Iran says 15 officials and staff were flatly denied visas—a move the country calls 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.'
“US travel bans and visa restrictions spark anger among World Cup fans from affected nations.”
The policy stems from Trump's hardline immigration stance, which was a key part of his 2024 re-election campaign. The US government says rigorous checks are needed because of the challenges of managing the huge flow of people across its borders. But critics see it as discrimination. Julien Kouadio Adonis of the Ivory Coast's fan association describes it as 'a form of segregation that doesn't dare speak its name', pointing out that no European country faces such restrictions. 'Why Africa?' he asks. The visa recommended for fans costs around £137 and requires an in-person interview where applicants must show they intend to leave after the trip and can pay all costs. The Department of Homeland Security is particularly concerned about overstayers: more than 538,000 'overstay events' were documented between 2023 and 2024.
For UK readers, the issue is a reminder that even though England fans are not directly targeted, the integrity of a global tournament is at stake. Football's governing bodies have long argued that the World Cup should be a unifying event, welcoming fans from all nations. Instead, the current system creates a two-tier experience: fans from wealthy, low-risk countries can travel freely, while those from poorer or politically unstable nations face insurmountable barriers. The 1986 World Cup in Mexico, by contrast, had no such widespread visa problems—indeed, some England fans who went then 'never came home' and are now being reunited at this summer's tournament, according to reports. That nostalgic story highlights how much the landscape has changed.
Q: Which countries are affected by the US travel ban for the World Cup? Four World Cup nations—Haiti, Iran, Senegal and Ivory Coast—are on President Trump's travel ban list, meaning their citizens cannot get the visitor visa recommended for fans. Iraq is not on the list but faces a de facto ban because the US suspended visa services there.
Q: Why are Iran's players having visa problems? Iran's team was forced to land in Mexico and must fly in and out of the US on the day of each match because of visa issues. The US denied visas to 15 Iranian officials and staff, accusing the team of potentially trying to 'sneak terrorists' into the country. Iran calls it political interference.
Q: How much does it cost to apply for a US visa for the World Cup? The recommended visitor visa costs around £137 and requires an in-person interview. Some countries, including Algeria, Cape Verde, the Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia, were exempt from the fee, but other restrictions still make attendance difficult.
What happens next is uncertain. The tournament is already underway, so fans from affected nations have largely had to accept they cannot attend. The controversy has reignited debate over whether the US should host future international events if it cannot guarantee equal access. For now, the Biden administration has not signalled any change to the policy, and the US Department of Homeland Security continues to prioritise security over convenience. The sight of empty seats where passionate supporters should be may become a recurring image of this World Cup.