Donald Trump has tightened immigration policies ahead of the World Cup
United States President Donald Trump’s administration has announced that Haitian supporters will not be granted visas ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Haiti secured its place at the World Cup for only the second time in history after topping a group that included Honduras, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua.
However, the US has barred Haitians, both immigrants and non-immigrants, from entering the country under an order titled “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.”
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President Trump explained that government statistics indicate Haitians have been entering the US in large numbers, contributing to increased overstay rates and criminal activity.
Despite the ban, an exception exists for “any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting events as determined by the Secretary of State.”
However, the US State Department confirmed to Politico that this exception will not apply to Haitian fans, in accordance with immigration policies.
“The State Department said fans may still submit visa applications and schedule interviews to attend the games, but they ‘may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States.’ The travel ban also includes an exception for applicants whose travel would ‘advance US national interest,’ though a State Department spokesperson noted such exceptions will likely be ‘very rare,’” Politico reported on Saturday, November 22, 2025.
Meanwhile, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has stated that supporters of all qualified nations would be welcome in the US for the tournament.
It remains unclear how FIFA will negotiate with the US State Department to secure exceptions for fans from countries affected by the travel ban.
SB/MA
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