- Donald Trump has enacted travel bans on 12 nations, throwing planning for the upcoming World Cup into disarray.
- As part of his continuing immigration clampdown, eight countries will be subjected to complete bans, whereas another six will experience limited restrictions.
- Even though athletes and team officials can enter the U.S. for the event, it’s still uncertain if family members and supporters will receive similar permission.
Donald Trump has announced a comprehensive new order prohibiting citizens from 12 nations from entering the United States.
This action is part of his fresh efforts to intensify immigration enforcement following his return to the White House earlier this year.
On Wednesday, the U.S. President endorsed the proclamation, intensifying measures related to borders and entries.
This choice might affect the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to be jointly hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
What nations are impacted by the travel restrictions imposed under President Trump?
Trump has now imposed a travel ban on citizens from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
In the meantime, countries including Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela have faced some limitations on travel.
"We can't allow unrestricted immigration from nations where we lack the ability to conduct safe and thorough background checks. For this reason, I'm signing an executive order today imposing travel limitations on certain countries," stated Trump.
I have to take action to safeguard the national security and interests of the United States and its citizens. I continue to be dedicated to working with nations ready to collaborate in enhancing data sharing and identity management processes, as well as tackling threats related to terrorism and public safety.
What implications does this have for the 2026 World Cup?
The U.S. will jointly host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada.
The updated executive order features a provision allowing athletes, coaches, key personnel, and their direct family members to travel for significant sports tournaments such as the World Cup or the Olympic Games, as detailed in Section 4.
Nevertheless, the directive does not specify if supporters or extended relatives from these nations will be permitted entrance to cheer for their respective national teams.
Which nations made it to the World Cup according to Trump's list?
Among the nations impacted by Trump’s travel restriction, Iran has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
In a vital match against Uzbekistan in March, Mehdi Taremi scored two goals, securing a tie that guaranteed Team Melli's qualification. This marks their fourth consecutive participation in the competition.
Both Equatorial Guinea and Libya are still in the running but would need to go through the playoffs to progress further.
Sudan is also aiming for a historic first qualification, competing in Group B of the CAF qualifiers along with powerhouses DR Congo and Senegal.
Aside from the co-hosts USA, Mexico, and Canada, the additional qualifying nations currently include Iran, Japan, New Zealand, and Argentina.
FIFA warns of potential ban for an African nation
Earlier reports from Mountain Travel suggested that FIFA has cautioned an African country about potential suspension from international football and exclusion from the 2026 World Cup because of governmental meddling.
The football governing body issued an official letter, emphasising the need for the country’s football association to operate independently.
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