American President Donald Trump has expanded his travel ban to impact two more World Cup nations.
In June 2026, the United States of America, Mexico and Canada will co-host the biggest competition in football as the World Cup gets underway.
A record total of 104 matches will be played over the summer across 16 venues, 11 in the USA, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
However, ahead of the competition getting underway, concerns have been raised about the USA hosting as President Trump continues to introduce travel bans on various countries set to compete in the competition.
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And now, The White House have officially announced that a further five countries have added to the ban while another 15 additional countries have been handed partial restrictions and entry limitations, including two set to play at the World Cup.
In June, Trump confirmed citizens of 12 countries would be banned from visiting the United States while those from a further seven countries would face restrictions.
The bans was introduced in an attempt to U.S. entry standards for travel and immigration, but understandably caused worry among fans, players and staff travelling to the World Cup just one year later.
On Tuesday, Trump signed a new proclamation expanding the ban to include five more countries, while imposing limits on others, including both Ivory Coast and Senegal, who will play in the World Cup.
The proclamation suspends entry into the U.S. for nationals of both countries, both as immigrants and non-immigrants, even those travelling on a visitor category for business and tourism, which would be the case for fans travelling to the World Cup next summer.
It comes as nationals from Iran and Haiti, who will also compete at the World Cup, are already facing travel restrictions to the United States.
Executive orders have previously included exemptions in the travel bans for athletes, support staff and immediate relatives of anyone playing at at the World Cup, but not for travelling fans.
Senegal have been drawn into Group I, along with France, Norway and the play-off winner between Bolivia, Iraq or Suriname.
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast have been drawn into Group E and face Ecuador, Curacao, and Germany.
During the announcement, the Trump administration also confired it was expanding the list of countries whose citizens are banned from entering the the country to Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria.
Meanwhile, travel for people with Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents has also been fully restricted.
Topics: Donald Trump, USA, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Football, FIFA World Cup, Football World Cup
Ben McCrum