The Trump administration has responded to questions around a travel ban that threatens to disrupt next summer's 48-team World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Back in June, President Donald Trump announced that he would introduce "common sense restrictions" on travel to the United States that would, in his words, "protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors".
In a bid to stop an influx of foreign nationals who had not been "properly vetted" from entering the country, he confirmed that citizens of 12 nations would no longer be allowed in, including Haiti and Iran, who have both qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
The travel ban also impacts people from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
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In addition to the above, partial travel restrictions were imposed on travellers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
It remains to be seen if any special provisions are introduced for fans of Iran and Haiti ahead of next summer's tournament, but a report from The Independent suggests Trump's administration is preparing to expand a travel ban enacted in June.
Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House World Cup Task Force, was repeatedly asked about the ban in a press conference on Wednesday, and his responses gave further insight into their stance.
As per Al Jazeera, Giuliani confirmed that there will be no special World Cup exemptions for fans from 19 countries that are under a US travel ban. "He also did not rule out targeting undocumented immigrants for removal around matches," the report adds.
Giuliani also reiterated that players and direct support staff from banned countries will be issued visas, but fans may not get the chance to see their team in action.
“Visas are a national security issue, each and every one of those there,” he said, before pointing out that Haiti manager Sebastien Migne has yet to visit the country since being appointed 18 months ago.
"I was reading that the national team coach has not actually been to the country right now," he added. "So it shows just, unfortunately, how dangerous the situation is right there, where the team coach has not actually been to the country."
Haiti coach leads nation to World Cup despite having never set foot in country
For years, Haiti has struggled with political instability, poverty, and natural disasters – including devastating earthquakes and hurricanes – but an escalation in gang violence has pushed Haiti into a new era of insecurity.
Armed gangs are striking the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area and its surroundings with terror and violence, including rape and other forms of sexual violence.
"Children are targeted and regularly exploited by gangs," a report from Amnesty International says. "Almost any street could become a battlefield. Food is scarce and half of the country’s population face acute hunger."
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to Haiti due to the volatile security situation.
As a result of the situation, Migne has never set foot in the country since being appointed in 2024.
"It's impossible because it's too dangerous," he told French publication L'Equipe. "I usually live in the countries where I work, but I can't here. There are no more international flights landing there."
Despite concerns, there is an exemption within the order for "any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, travelling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State".
FIFA president Gianni Infantino previously said that the US will 'welcome the world' when the World Cup kicks off.
"Everyone who wants to come here to enjoy, to have fun and to celebrate the game will be able to do that," he said, but as it stands, fans from countries on the list don't have a way into the United States.
Topics: FIFA World Cup, Donald Trump
Jack Kenmare