Country Could Miss 2026 World Cup After Being Listed in Donald Trump’s Travel Ban
- Donald Trump has reportedly proposed a travel ban on countries, which could impact nations set to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- With the tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, restrictions could create complications for affected teams
- FIFA may need to consider alternative solutions to ensure all qualified nations can participate without travel issues
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One country may be barred from participating in the 2026 World Cup in the United States due to its inclusion on President Donald Trump’s proposed travel ban list.
Trump, who returned to office as the 47th US President in January after defeating Kamala Harris in the election, has prioritised immigration policies, including suspending entry for undocumented immigrants.
Source: Getty Images
According to the New York Times, his administration has drafted a list of 43 countries facing various levels of travel restrictions, with the majority being African nations.
The list reportedly categorises countries into full visa bans, partial or strict visa suspensions, and nations given 60 days to address concerns before facing potential restrictions.
Many of the fully banned nations have already been eliminated from World Cup qualifying, such as Afghanistan and North Korea.
Country could be blocked from playing at 2026 World Cup
However, Iran, which recently secured qualification, is among the nations listed, potentially complicating their participation in the tournament.
The Asian country secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup after Mehdi Taremi netted twice in a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan on Tuesday, 25th March, per ESPN.
The Inter Milan striker netted his second goal in the 83rd minute in Tehran, securing the crucial point Iran needed to qualify for their fourth consecutive World Cup and seventh overall.
Several African nations still in World Cup contention—such as Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Burkina Faso—fall under the partial ban category.
In South America, Venezuela is the only country facing a full visa ban, potentially impacting their qualification hopes if they advance.
Countries on Trump's proposed travel ban list?
Full visa bans
Afghanistan
Bhutan
Cuba
Iran
Libya
North Korea
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
Venezuela
Yemen
Source: Getty Images
Partial visa suspensions
Belarus
Eritrea (unranked by FIFA, having not played a game since January 2020)
Haiti
Laos
Myanmar
Pakistan
Russia (currently suspended by FIFA)
Sierra Leone
South Sudan
Turkmenistan
Countries recommended for partial suspension (countries have 60 days to address concerns)
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Benin
Burkina Faso
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Cameroon
Chad
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dominica
Equatorial Guinea
Gambia
Liberia
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Republic of the Congo
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Sao Tome and Principe
Vanuatu
Zimbabwe
What could FIFA do next?
The 2026 World Cup is not solely being hosted by the United States, as Mexico and Canada are also set to stage several matches.
This opens the possibility of a resolution that would allow nations affected by travel restrictions, such as Iran, to play their group-stage matches and beyond in either Mexico or Canada.
However, there has been no official indication that FIFA is considering such an arrangement.
The 2025 Champions Trophy cricket tournament offers a potential precedent for FIFA.
Due to political tensions, India refused to play in host nation Pakistan, and the ICC allowed them to play their matches in Dubai instead.
India went on to win the tournament, defeating New Zealand in the final.
While FIFA has yet to comment on any potential workarounds, similar adjustments could be explored to ensure that all qualified teams can participate in the tournament.
However, it remains to be seen whether FIFA would be willing to relocate matches or implement alternative measures to accommodate affected nations.
Proposed travel ban and impact on the 2026 FIFA World Cup
According to a report on Reuters, President Donald Trump's administration has drafted a proposal to implement a travel ban affecting 43 countries, =which targets a lot of African nations.
This initiative brings back memories of the travel restrictions from his first term, which faced a lot of legal challenges before being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
The current proposal categorizes countries using a color-coded system, with the "Red Zone" imposing a complete ban on travel to the U.S.
The report of a proposed ban has now raised concerns about its impact on international events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, faces potential complications due to these proposed travel restrictions.
However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has engaged with President Trump to address these issues, aiming to ensure that all qualified teams can compete without impediments.
What criteria did the Trump govt use to determine the countries included in the travel ban?
The Donald Trump administration has not publicly detailed the exact criteria for selecting the 43 countries on the proposed travel ban list. But from events of the past, the decisions have been based on assessments of national security risks, intelligence-sharing practices, and the perceived reliability of a country's identity-management and information-sharing protocols. However, without official clarification, the specific rationale for each country's inclusion remains uncertain.
FIFA threatens to ban African country
YEN.com,gh earlier reported that FIFA has warned an African nation that it could face suspension from international football and the 2026 World Cup due to government interference.
The football governing body issued an official letter, emphasising the need for the country’s football association to operate independently.
Nomso Obiajuru was a contributing writer in this article
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Source: YEN.com.gh
