As the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws ever closer, a major travel policy shift by co-hosts, the United States, is sending shockwaves across the African continent, not just in politics and travel, but in the hearts of football fans dreaming of cheering their teams on in North America.
The White House announced a broad expansion of U.S. entry restrictions on December 16, affecting 39 countries worldwide, with a significant number from Africa.
The proclamation, signed by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, claimed the measures are being put in place to protect U.S. national security and ensure public safety, citing concerns over screening, vetting, and information-sharing.
Which African countries have been hit by the ban?
The expanded policy includes both full bans and partial travel restrictions, with citizens of countries facing the former dealing with the most severe limits on entering the U.S, while those facing the latter are set to encounter more scrutiny on certain visas, including tourist and business travel.
Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and South Sudan have all been hit with full bans, while the African countries facing partial restrictions include Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
There are some exemptions, however, in place for persons with visas issued before January 1, 2026, lawful, permanent US residents, athletes, diplomats, and people whose travel serves U.S. national interests.
Nonetheless, the new regime throws a spanner in the works for the average football fans and ordinary citizens of the affected nations planning visits for sport, tourism, or business.
Expanded World Cup, but no expanded access
Next year’s World Cup will be the biggest ever, with the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup finals to be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. African countries make up nine of the spots at the tournament.
Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cape Verde, and South Africa have already booked their spots at the finals, which kick off on June 11, 2026, and could be joined by DR Congo if they make it through the playoffs.
Two of the continent’s representatives, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, are directly affected by the new policy shakeup, after being slapped with partial entry limitations, a new development that will concern the passionate fanbases of these proud footballing nations.
Reports from news outlets on the continent that Senegalese and Ivorian fans could struggle to see their nations in World Cup matches played in the US as a result of the travel ban’s impact on tourism visas, have not done much to lift the mood of fans in these countries, leading to calls to the respective governments to provide some clarity on the matter.
Any hope of World Cup action?
For the teams themselves, FIFA has indicated that athletes, coaches, and essential support staff will be exempt from the restrictions, meaning national teams competing next summer will have the full complement of their squads and technical units for the tournament.
However, while the uncertainty over the fate of the fans remains a huge worry, there may be a silver lining. Matches scheduled to be played in Canada or Mexico, the other co-hosts of the tournament, may offer some relief for fans who want a taste of World Cup football next year, as those countries are not bound by the travel restrictions imposed by the US.
The governments and football associations of some of the affected nations are also exploring alternative plans and engaging with US officials, leaving fans hopeful that a favourable resolution might be reached before the mundial.
Unity, football and the bigger pictureÂ
Critics of the travel ban argue that the restrictions risk undermining the global unity that events like the FIFA World Cup aim to foster. US President Donald Trump was recently presented with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, in recognition of his efforts to unite people across the globe and many people feel this recent move contradicts the spirit of the award.
The fact that many of the countries facing these restrictions are from Africa and other developing regions has not escaped scrutiny as well.
Football fans on the continent, particularly those in the affected countries, have been advised to start their visa processes early, if they are intent on seeing matches in the US or, if that option falters, consider limiting their World Cup experiences to Canada or Mexico where things are not as strict.
At a time when football was supposed to bring the world together, travel restrictions like these serve as a reminder of how even sports cannot be divorced from the reality of the world we live in and how Africans are usually, and quite unfairly, on the losing end.