In Tangier, Morocco, the excitement of fans from Senegal and Ivory Coast has hit a snag. Their dreams of watching their teams play in the World Cup are hanging in the balance due to a travel ban imposed by the Trump administration. This ban specifically targets countries with partial restrictions on entry to the United States, and both Senegal and Ivory Coast found themselves on this list in December.
As the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations captures the attention of fans, those cheering for Senegal and Ivory Coast feel devastated. The travel restrictions mean that supporters who don’t already have visas cannot travel to the U.S. for the World Cup, scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19.
One frustrated Senegalese fan, Djibril Gueye, expressed his discontent, saying, “I don’t understand why the American president would want to exclude teams from certain countries. If that is the case, maybe they should not host the World Cup.” He feels it is crucial for the United States to provide options for fans to support their teams. “The U.S. must create the conditions for qualified countries so that everyone can be there to support their team,” he added.
The travel restrictions stem from President Donald Trump’s concerns about “screening and vetting deficiencies.” Sadly, fans from Iran and Haiti, who also qualified for the World Cup, face similar challenges. The travel ban allows an exception for players and team officials, but supporters are left out in the cold.
Fatou Diedhiou leads a group of female fans from Senegal. She said, “We really want to be part of this event, but we feel uncertain about how to get there.” She hopes that with time, things might change and fans will find a way to support their beloved teams.
Sheikh Sy is another deeply invested fan who supported Senegal in the last World Cup held in Qatar. “We have always traveled with our team as die-hard fans,” he remarked. With Senegal’s World Cup qualification, he feels it is a must to attend the tournament in the U.S.
Senegal’s first World Cup match is against France on June 16 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Four days later, they face Norway in the same venue. Their last group-stage game will be in Toronto against a playoff winner from Bolivia, Suriname, or Iraq on June 26. Ivory Coast has two matches in the U.S., starting against Ecuador in Philadelphia on June 14 and finishing the group against Curacao on June 25, after facing Germany in Toronto.
Emerse Faé, the Ivory Coast coach, remains hopeful that a solution will be found for Ivorian fans. He recalls a similar problem during the Africa Cup of Nations when a visa requirement emerged. “Everything eventually worked out, and our fans could come as long as they had tickets,” Faé said confidently. He stressed the significance of supporting local fans, saying, “This is a celebration! It would be a shame for fans not to experience this joy.”
The reality, however, remains that Senegal and Ivory Coast may face matches with limited fan support, primarily relying on U.S. residents or those with visas. Ivorian winger Yan Diomande pointed out that while the players are focused on the game, the lack of fan support is unfortunate. “It’s okay for us to play without them, but the most important thing is to win,” he stated.
Captain Franck Kessie echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the onus is on politicians to resolve the travel ban. He added that the Ivorian Football Federation would work to ease travel for supporters.
In addition to the travel ban, the steep costs of attending the World Cup present another barrier. One Senegalese fan, who wishes to remain anonymous, shares that though he has the option to travel on his French citizenship, he would abstain due to political reasons and the high ticket prices. “It feels like this is all about business, completely overlooking the fans,” he lamented.
An Ivorian supporter named Tan Detopeu expressed her fears about limited attendance from fans. “Even without the travel ban, the costs are so high that it’s going to be a struggle for many to be there,” she remarked.
The dreams of football fans from Senegal and Ivory Coast now hang by a thread, as they watch and wait to see if they can celebrate their teams on the world stage.
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Original Text – https://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-trump-travel-ban-leaves-senegal-ivory-coast-fans-in-limbo-1930221