A US official has responded to concerns about fans being able to attend the 2026 World Cup amid ongoing travel bans.
Earlier this week, Donald Trump's administration confirmed further crackdowns on immigration, announcing that a total of 75 countries were now barred from entering the US.
The list includes several countries which have qualified to play in the upcoming 2026 World Cup - such as Brazil, Egypt, Haiti and Morocco - potentially throwing the entire tournament into chaos.
While the ban does not affect athletes travelling to the US, meaning football teams and coaching staff included in the tournament will still be able to play, concerns have been raised about the possibility of fans attending matches.
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The concern prompted FIFA to issue a statement on the matter, reminding fans that a ticket 'does not guarantee admission to a host country'.
Now the US State Department has weighed in on the backlash, insisting that the ban applies to 'immigrant visas only'.
Confirming the distinction in a statement to The Mirror, a spokesperson for the US State Department said travel restrictions don't apply to 'nonimmigrant visas'. This includes visas for 'tourists, athletes and their families, and media professionals intending to travel for the World Cup'.
Which is good news for travelling fans, as it means they'll still be able to watch their team play – assuming they've been able to secure the correct travel visa, of course.
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"Fans should visit each country's government website today for entry requirements for Canada, Mexico and the United States," read a recent update shared by FIFA on the situation.
"Given the processing times involved, FIFA recommends submitting the visa application as early as possible.
"FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket holders travelling to the United States are eligible for the recently announced FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS) when it becomes available in the coming weeks."
Meanwhile, the US government had previously announced that it would be offering a prioritised system allowing fans with tickets to get their visas processed in time for the tournament.
Announced back in November, the FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (Pass) allows fans with tickets to expedite their visa process. "We're going to do the same vetting as anybody else would get. The only difference here is we're moving them up in the queue," Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously said of the policy (via BBC).
You can find out more about the Pass system on the US government website here.
Full list of World Cup countries on US travel ban list
- Algeria
- Brazil
- Cape Verde
- Colombia
- Egypt
- Ghana
- Haiti
- Iran
- Ivory Coast
- Jordan
- Morocco
- Senegal
- Tunisia
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, World Cup, Football
Brenna Cooper