Fans from more than a quarter of the countries competing at the 2026 World Cup face US travel bans, tighter visa restrictions or high rejection rates that make attending the tournament practically impossible. The BBC World Service has documented cases from Iraq, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Iran and Haiti where supporters who bought match tickets cannot obtain visas, cannot access US embassies or cannot afford the bureaucratic hurdles required to enter the United States. The result is a World Cup that some fans are calling "a tournament for them, not us." Follow every World Cup match live on iScore.ai.
"A World Cup for Them, Not Us": The Scale of the Problem
The 2026 World Cup is the first to be hosted across three nations and the first to feature 48 teams. It is also the first where a significant proportion of competing nations' fans face systemic barriers to attending matches in the primary host country. The United States hosts 78 of the 104 matches, including all knockout rounds from the quarter-finals onward. Canada and Mexico host the remainder. For fans from countries with difficult US visa processes, the tournament's geography creates a two-tier system: those who can travel freely and those who cannot.
The disparity is stark. Forty-two countries benefit from the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a simplified online process that costs approximately $40 and requires no in-person interview. This list includes most of Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Zero African countries are on this list. Zero Middle Eastern countries are on this list (with the exception of Israel). The practical consequence is that a fan from Germany can book a flight and complete a visa waiver on their phone in ten minutes, while a fan from Senegal must pay $185, schedule an embassy interview, provide extensive documentation and wait weeks for a decision that may be negative.
The anger is palpable. Julien Kouadio Adonis from the Ivory Coast's fan association, the National Committee for the Support of the Elephants, 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 to the US because of the regulations.
The Travel Ban: Four Competing Nations Directly Affected
President Trump's travel ban list includes four countries that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup: Haiti, Iran, Senegal and Ivory Coast. Citizens from these nations are barred from receiving the type of visitor visa (B-1/B-2) that US authorities recommend for World Cup fans. The ban, which has been expanded and modified since its original implementation, creates a near-absolute barrier for ordinary citizens of these countries to enter the United States for any purpose, including sporting events.
For Haiti, the situation is particularly painful. The Haitian national team qualified for their first World Cup since 1974, a moment of immense national pride for a country that has endured decades of political instability and natural disasters. Haitian fans who want to watch their team play in the United States, which is home to a large Haitian diaspora, face the cruel irony of being barred from entering the country where many of their relatives already live.
The ban's impact on Senegal and Ivory Coast affects two of Africa's strongest footballing nations. Senegal, the 2021 African Cup of Nations champions, have a passionate fanbase known for their vibrant support. Ivory Coast, the 2023 AFCON hosts, have one of the most talented squads in African football. Both nations have large diaspora communities in Europe and North America, but fans travelling directly from West Africa face the most restrictive barriers.
US authorities maintain that their immigration system needs to be rigorous due to the challenges they face in managing the flow of people across the country's borders. Strict immigration policies were a key part of Trump's re-election campaign in 2024. The State Department says visa applicants must demonstrate "your intent to depart the United States after your trip, and/or your ability to pay all costs of the trip." For young football fans from developing nations, meeting these criteria can be impossible.
Iraq: No Embassy, No Visa, No World Cup
Iraq's situation is unique and particularly frustrating for fans because Iraq is not on the travel ban list. The barrier is logistical, not legal. After the start of the US-Israel war with Iran, the US suspended routine consular services in Iraq due to concerns about security in the region. This means there is nowhere in the entire country where Iraqi citizens can obtain a US visa, as they must attend an in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Abdulla Adnan, an Iraqi fan, bought tickets for Iraq's matches against Norway and France, which will be played 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. "It's a feeling that no other feeling can compare to." Iraq has only qualified for the World Cup once before, in 1986.
Adnan travelled to neighbouring Jordan to try to get a visa at the US embassy in Amman. When he arrived for his appointment, staff told him that because he was not a Jordanian citizen, the embassy could not process his application. The tickets for the matches and the trip to Jordan cost him about $1,800. He considered applying in Turkey, but the process could take up to two weeks, which he could not afford. He has given up.
Iraq are one of the tournament's debutants, and their qualification was celebrated across the country. The prospect of Iraqi fans being unable to watch their team play in only their second-ever World Cup is a bitter blow to a football-mad nation. For more on the tournament's debutant teams, see our World Cup 2026 debutants guide.
African Fans Locked Out: Ivory Coast, Senegal and Beyond
The impact on African fans extends beyond the four countries on the travel ban list. Multiple African nations face high visa rejection rates, long processing times and demanding documentation requirements. The BBC World Service found that fans from more than a quarter of the competing countries face significant barriers, with African nations disproportionately affected.
Senegalese fan Aliou Ngom told the BBC he felt there was no point even applying for a visa to see his team, known as Les Lions de la Teranga, play in the US. The cost of the application, the travel to a US embassy (the nearest one may be in a different country), the documentation requirements and the likelihood of rejection combined to make the process seem futile.
The Ivory Coast fan association's decision not to organise a travelling group is emblematic of a broader pattern. Across West Africa, fan groups that would normally travel to support their national teams at World Cups have either scaled back their plans or abandoned them entirely. The cost of the visa process, combined with the uncertainty of approval, makes it an unreasonable investment for fans in countries where average incomes are a fraction of those in Europe or North America.
This is not the first time African fans have faced barriers at World Cups. Visa difficulties affected fans travelling to Russia in 2018 and Brazil in 2014. But the scale of the 2026 restrictions, combined with the tournament being held in a country with particularly stringent immigration policies, makes this the most significant access issue in recent World Cup history.
The ESTA Divide: 42 Countries Get Easy Access, Zero From Africa
The US visa system operates on a two-tier model. Citizens of 42 countries, predominantly wealthy Western nations, can travel to the United States under the ESTA visa waiver programme. The application takes minutes, costs about $40 and requires no interview. Citizens of every other country must apply for a B-1/B-2 visitor visa, which costs $185, requires an in-person interview at a US embassy and can take weeks or months to process.
The disparity is not subtle. Japan, South Korea and Australia are on the ESTA list. No African country is. Most of Europe is on the list. No Middle Eastern country is (except Israel). The result is that fans from wealthy nations can decide to attend a World Cup match on short notice, while fans from developing nations must plan months in advance, invest significant money in the visa process and accept a real risk of rejection.
This two-tier system has always existed, but it becomes a sporting issue when the World Cup is held in a country that enforces it strictly. Previous World Cup hosts have implemented special visa facilitation measures for tournament ticket holders. Qatar introduced a Hayya card that served as a visa waiver for all fans with match tickets. Brazil simplified its visa process for the 2014 tournament. The United States has not announced any equivalent programme for the 2026 World Cup, though it did drop the controversial deposit requirement in May 2026.
Iran: The Team That Almost Wasn't There
Iran's World Cup preparation has been dominated by visa and diplomatic issues from the start. The US travel ban directly affects Iranian citizens, making it nearly impossible for fans to obtain visitor visas. But the complications extended to the team itself. In May 2026, reports emerged that the US had initially denied entry to parts of the Iranian delegation, prompting FIFA to intervene.
The resolution was a venue change: Iran's group stage matches were relocated from US venues to Mexico. While this solved the immediate problem of the team's participation, it created a new set of challenges for Iranian fans, who now need to travel to Mexico rather than the US. Mexican visa requirements are less restrictive than American ones, but the logistics of travelling from Iran to Mexico remain formidable for ordinary citizens.
The situation has drawn criticism from human rights organisations and football governance experts, who argue that the World Cup should not be awarded to countries whose immigration policies prevent fans of qualifying teams from attending. For more on the Iran visa crisis, see our detailed Iran World Cup 2026 visa crisis report.
The $15,000 Deposit That Was Dropped
In early 2026, the US implemented a requirement that visa applicants from certain countries post financial deposits of up to $15,000 as a condition of their application. The deposit was intended to ensure that visitors would leave the United States after the tournament. For fans from countries where the average annual income is less than $5,000, this requirement was functionally impossible to meet.
The deposit requirement was dropped in May 2026 after sustained criticism from FIFA, national football associations and human rights groups. The reversal was welcome but came too late for many fans who had already given up on attending the tournament. Planning a World Cup trip requires months of advance preparation, and the uncertainty created by the deposit requirement had already deterred thousands of potential travellers.
The episode illustrated a broader tension between US immigration policy and the expectations of a global sporting event. The World Cup is FIFA's premier asset, and the organisation has long insisted that host nations facilitate fan access. But FIFA's leverage over US immigration policy is limited, and the Trump administration has shown little willingness to compromise on border security for the sake of a football tournament.
What Fans Can Do: Practical Options
For fans from affected countries, the options are limited but not entirely exhausted. Some strategies that have worked for individual supporters include applying for visas at US embassies in third countries (though this requires the time and money to travel to a different nation), applying through special categories such as journalist or business visas, and relying on diaspora connections (fans who already hold residency or citizenship in countries with easier US visa access).
Some national football associations have organised group visa applications, working directly with US authorities to facilitate the process for travelling supporters. The success rate varies. Fans with strong documentation, stable employment and previous travel history to Western countries have a higher chance of approval.
For those who cannot attend in person, digital access has improved significantly. iScore.ai provides live scores, real-time statistics and match analysis for every World Cup game, making it possible to follow the tournament from anywhere in the world. The fan experience is not the same as being in the stadium, but the data and coverage available in 2026 are more comprehensive than at any previous World Cup.
The broader question of whether countries with restrictive immigration policies should host global sporting events will persist long after the 2026 World Cup ends. The 2030 World Cup, to be hosted across Spain, Portugal and Morocco, will face its own access challenges, though none are expected to match the scale of the 2026 restrictions. For more on the 2026 tournament's unique format and structure, see our World Cup 2026 format guide.
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FAQ
Which World Cup 2026 countries are affected by US travel bans?
Four competing nations are on President Trump's travel ban list: Haiti, Iran, Senegal and Ivory Coast. Citizens from these countries are barred from receiving the type of visitor visa that US authorities recommend for World Cup fans. Additionally, fans from Iraq face practical barriers because the US suspended consular services in Iraq due to regional security concerns.
How much does a US visa cost for World Cup fans?
The standard US visitor visa recommended for World Cup fans costs $185 per applicant. Applicants must attend an in-person interview and demonstrate intent to depart the US after their trip and ability to pay all costs. In contrast, 42 countries benefit from the ESTA visa waiver programme, which costs approximately $40 and requires only an online application with no interview.
Can Iranian fans attend the World Cup in the US?
Iranian fans face severe restrictions due to the US travel ban. The Iranian national team itself faced a diplomatic crisis when the US initially denied entry to parts of the team delegation. FIFA intervened and some matches involving Iran were relocated to Mexico. Individual fans from Iran face near-impossible visa barriers under current US immigration policy.
What was the $15,000 visa deposit for World Cup fans?
In early 2026, the US required visa applicants from certain countries to post deposits of up to $15,000 as a condition of their visitor visa application. This requirement was dropped in May 2026 after widespread criticism that it effectively priced out fans from developing nations. The deposit was intended to ensure visitors would leave the US after the tournament.
Do European fans need a visa for the 2026 World Cup?
Most European fans do not need a traditional visa. Forty-two generally wealthier countries, including most of Europe, benefit from the US ESTA visa waiver programme, which costs about $40 and is completed entirely online. No African countries are on this list, creating a significant disparity in access between European and African fans.
Sources
- BBC News: "'A World Cup for them not us': Fans' anger at US travel bans and visa restrictions" (June 2026)
- US Department of State: Visa application requirements and ESTA programme data
- API-Football: World Cup 2026 fixtures and team data
- FIFA.com: World Cup host nation requirements and venue allocation