Supporters of two of Africa’s leading football nations have their World Cup aspirations thrown into disarray after the United States imposed a travel ban. Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire were added to the list of countries facing partial entry restrictions in December. The United States is the upcoming World Cup co-host with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
The restrictions are causing considerable frustration for fans who are currently in Morocco watching the Africa Cup of Nations matches. The new rules effectively prevent travel to the United States for the World Cup for those who do not hold a visa in advance.
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“I don’t know why the president of the United States would want teams from certain countries not to participate. If that was the case, they should not have agreed to host the World Cup,” Senegal supporter Djibril Guhay told The Associated Press in Tangier, Morocco.
US suspends visa processing for 75 countries – full list
“The United States has a responsibility to provide the conditions, means and resources to allow qualified countries to participate so that everyone can support their team,” Gay said.
Senegalese fan Pape dressed as a lion and held the Senegalese flag during the African Cup of Nations in Tangier, Morocco on December 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Ciaran Fahey) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
President Donald Trump cited “screening and review deficiencies” as the main reason for the suspension. Fans from Iran and Haiti, two countries that have qualified for the World Cup, will also be barred from entering the United States; they were included in the first round of travel bans announced by the Trump administration.
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The restrictions include exceptions for players, team officials and immediate family members traveling to the World Cup, but there are no allowances for supporters.
“We really want to get involved but don’t know how,” said Fatou Diedhiou, president of the Senegalese women’s fans group. “Now we are just waiting because the World Cup is not here yet and maybe they will change their mind. We don’t know. We’ll see.”
Cheikh Sy supported Senegal at last World Cup in Qatar and is determined to find a way to the U.S.
“We have been everywhere with our team because we are national fans of Senegal,” he said. “So, now that Senegal has qualified for the World Cup, we absolutely have to go.”
Senegalese fan Sheikh Sy is one of the official supporters accompanying the team during the Africa Cup of Nations on December 23, 2025 in Tangier, Morocco. (AP Photo/Ciaran Fahey) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Senegal, which has reached the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations, will play its first World Cup match against France on June 16 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and Norway four days later at the same stadium. The final game of the group stage will be against the winner of the play-off between Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq on June 26 in Toronto.
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The Ivory Coast will also play two games in the United States, the first against Ecuador in Philadelphia on June 14, followed by the group stage against Germany in Toronto and Curacao on June 25.
Ivory Coast coach Emers Faai is optimistic a solution can be found for supporters. He noted that Ivorian fans faced similar obstacles when traveling to Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations, as visa requirements were introduced ahead of the tournament.
“In the end, everything went well, as long as they had tickets to watch the games they could come. I think by the time of the World Cup things will be sorted out,” Fae told The Associated Press at the team hotel in Marrakech.
“It’s a celebration, football is a celebration and for me it would be a real shame, especially with the World Cup happening every four years, it would be a real shame not to allow our supporters to come and experience this celebration,” Fee said.
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Limited support
Senegal and Ivory Coast face the prospect of playing with only limited support from fans who are legal residents of the United States, already hold visas or hold dual citizenship from countries not affected by the travel ban.
Ivory Coast winger Jan Diomande said there was nothing the players could do. This is not their country and their focus is only on what is happening on the pitch.
“It’s okay for us, we can play without supporters,” Diomande told The Associated Press. “The most important thing is to win every game and fight for every game.”
Captain Frank Casey agreed and said it was up to politicians to find solutions.
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“There is also a tournament committee run by the Ivory Coast Football Federation, so I think we will put in place measures together with the government to make it easier for our supporters,” Kessie said.
A Senegalese fan cheers for his national team before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final football match between Senegal and Mali in Tangier, Morocco, Friday, January 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
The travel ban is not the only obstacle facing fans in Ivory Coast and Senegal hoping to attend the World Cup.
A Senegalese fan wearing a lion mask said he could travel to the United States because he also has French citizenship, but he would not go there due to “issues of political conviction” and the high cost of tickets.
“My impression is that it’s all about the business world. They’ve completely ignored the grassroots aspect,” said the fan, who goes by simply “Pape.”
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Speaking in Casablanca, Ivory Coast supporter Tam de Top said she was concerned the team would get little support in the United States because few Ivorian supporters could afford tickets.
“Even without the ban issue, I don’t think many people would go to the World Cup because it’s a bit expensive,” De Top said.
