African football fans have voiced outrage over the Trump-era travel ban that prevents supporters from attending the 2026 World Cup in the United States, casting a shadow over the tournament months before kickoff.
Senegalese fans, still celebrating their Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Morocco, face a particularly bitter disappointment: they will be barred from seeing their team play France on June 16 in New Jersey.
The ban, enacted last December under the Trump administration, affects several African nations, including Senegal and Ivory Coast, citing “screening and vetting deficiencies” and high overstay rates for B1/B2 visitor visas. Players and coaching staff are exempt, but loyal fans—who follow their teams across the continent—are denied entry.
Singom Dadji Ngam, a Senegalese supporter and social media personality, told DW: “The team can’t play without its supporters. It only affects those with just a Senegalese passport, yet they are the ones who follow the team in all qualifying matches.” Other affected countries include Haiti, Iran, and potentially the Democratic Republic of the Congo, if it qualifies through playoffs.
Fans are calling for action. Some have suggested a boycott of the tournament, arguing that competitions succeed because of spectators. “If we’re not accepted as supporters, our teams shouldn’t go and neither should we,” said one Senegalese fan. “We are the strength of these competitions. Without spectators, there is no sport, no entertainment.”
The financial barrier adds further strain. FIFA ticket prices for the US-hosted World Cup are roughly five times higher than those in Qatar in 2022, averaging around $8,000 for fans seeking access to all matches. Football Supporters Europe criticized the pricing, calling it “unfair” and “exclusive,” particularly for fans already excluded by travel restrictions.
FIFA, led by President Gianni Infantino, has offered minimal assistance, noting that a match ticket does not guarantee entry to the host country. While 500 million applications were reportedly submitted globally, many fans who bought tickets are left stranded by geopolitics and policy.
Supporters across Africa have condemned the ban as “disgraceful” and called on governments, FIFA, and international organizations to advocate for fans’ rights. For many, the issue is not just football, but the principle of fair participation and access to a global sporting spectacle.
The 2026 World Cup, set across the US, Mexico, and Canada, faces growing scrutiny over its inclusivity and accessibility, as the intersection of politics, economics, and sport threatens to sideline the very fans who give life to the tournament.
