World Cup 2026 in the USA: Will Travel Bans Prevent Teams From Playing?
The upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is facing a potential hurdle. President Donald Trump’s administration has proposed a new travel ban list that could significantly impact the participation of at least one qualified nation and potentially others hoping to compete in the tournament.
In a move echoing his previous policies, President Trump, after returning to the White House, has focused on immigration and national security. Among his first actions was suspending entry for undocumented immigrants, signaling a return to strict border control measures.
Now, reports from the New York Times indicate a draft memo circulating within the Trump administration proposes a travel ban list of 43 countries. This list, primarily targeting nations in Africa, outlines different levels of restrictions: full visa bans, partial visa suspensions, and warnings to countries to address certain concerns within 60 days to avoid bans.
Iran World Cup Qualification and the US Travel Ban: A Major Conflict?
While many countries on the proposed full visa ban list have little to no chance of qualifying for the World Cup, one nation stands out prominently: Iran. Iran has already secured its place in the 2026 World Cup, making them the sixth team globally to qualify after a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan. Their qualification follows a respectable showing at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where they famously defeated Wales and narrowly lost to the United States.
The inclusion of Iran on the ‘red list’ of 11 countries facing a complete entry ban, as reported by the New York Times, raises serious questions about their ability to participate in the World Cup hosted in the United States. If implemented, this ban could prevent the Iranian national team, including both domestic and internationally based players like Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi, from entering the USA for the tournament.
It is crucial to note that this list is still in draft form and could be subject to change before reaching the White House for final approval. However, the potential implications for Iran and the World Cup are significant.
Beyond Iran, the proposed travel restrictions could affect other football nations. Countries like Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Burkina Faso, listed under ‘partial visa suspensions’ or ‘countries recommended for partial suspension’, are still in World Cup qualifying contention and could face challenges with player and staff travel to the USA should they qualify.
Venezuela is the only South American nation currently on the full visa ban list.
Here’s a breakdown of the proposed travel ban list, as reported by the Daily Mail, highlighting countries with past World Cup appearances:
Full Visa Bans:
- Afghanistan
- Bhutan
- Cuba
- Iran
- Libya
- North Korea
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Venezuela
- Yemen
Partial Visa Suspensions:
- Belarus
- Eritrea (unranked by FIFA)
- Haiti
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Pakistan
- Russia (currently suspended by FIFA)
- Sierra Leone
- South Sudan
- Turkmenistan
Countries Recommended for Partial Suspension (60-day review period):
- 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
FIFA’s Potential Response: Location Shift or Diplomatic Solutions?
With the World Cup being co-hosted across three nations, there is a possibility that FIFA could explore alternative solutions. One potential option is to allow affected teams like Iran to play their matches in Canada or Mexico, countries not imposing the same travel restrictions. This would mirror a precedent in cricket where the ICC allowed India to play Champions Trophy matches in Dubai due to political tensions preventing them from playing in Pakistan.
While there is no indication that FIFA is considering this specific approach, the multi-host nature of the 2026 World Cup offers flexibility. The coming months will be crucial in determining how these potential travel bans could impact the tournament and whether diplomatic solutions can be found to ensure all qualified teams can participate.
What are your thoughts on how these travel bans could affect the World Cup? Share your opinions in the comments below!