Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Olympics, FIFA World Cup, Donald Trump
Luke Davies
The US State Department has listed the events that are partly ‘exempt’ from the Trump administration’s widespread visa freeze.
On January 14, the Trump administration announced that it would impose an indefinite visa freeze on people from 75 countries, which would take effect on January 21.
This caused outrage among fans hopeful of attending sporting events in the US – including the 2026 FIFA World Cup – with many fearing that they could be turned away at the border when they arrive ahead of events.
Of the 75 nations listed, 15 are due to take part in the World Cup, including Brazil, Morocco, Colombia, Egypt and Uruguay.
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Meanwhile, US foreign policy has been a controversial topic of late, with the US having taken military action in both Venezuela and Nigeria recently, while also suggesting operations could happen in Greenland, Mexico, Colombia, and Iran soon.
This prompted 23 UK MPs from four parties – Labour, Liberal Democrats, Green Party, and Plaid Cymru – to sign a motion in parliament calling on international sporting bodies to consider expelling the US from major international competitions.
The World Cup is the most notable global sporting event scheduled to take place in the US this year, but many other events may also be impacted.
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Since the visa freeze was announced, the US State Department has shed further light on the situation with an official telling the Mirror that the "ban applies to the issuance of immigrant visas only, and does not apply to non-immigrant visas, such as those for tourists, athletes and their families, and media professionals intending to travel for the World Cup".
A separate report from FOX claimed that the State Department explained how athletes, coaches and support staff for the World Cup, Olympics and events “endorsed by collegiate and professional sporting leagues and associations would be excluded from the full and partial travel bans”.
However, the outlet claims that foreign spectators, media and sponsors may still be impacted by the ban unless they are deemed fit to qualify via another exemption.
"Only a small subset of travellers for the World Cup, Olympics and Paralympics, and other major sporting events will qualify for the exception," a cable sent to the US embassies and consulates on January 14 read.
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In June of 2025, the US government announced full or partial travel bans on citizens from a number of countries. More have since been added, with around 38 nations impacted.
Events covered by the partial exemption for competitors, staff and coaches include qualifying events for the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan American Games and Parapan American Games or events sanctioned, hosted or recognised by the U.S. National Governing Body.
Full list of events covered by exemptions:
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Olympic Games
Paralympic Games
Pan American Games
Parapan American Games
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Events sanctioned or recognised by U.S. National Governing Bodies
Special Olympics competitions and qualifying events
FIFA and confederation-hosted or endorsed events
International Military Sports Council events
International University Sports Federation events
NCAA competitions
NFL events
NBA events
WNBA events
MLB and Little League events
NHL events
Professional Women’s Hockey League events
NASCAR events
Formula 1 events
PGA events
LPGA events
LIV Golf events
Major League Soccer events
Major League Rugby events
WWE events
UFC events
AEW events