President Donald Trump’s planned travel restriction may result in up to 43 nations being excluded from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The United States, one of the three countries that will host the event next summer together with Canada and Mexico, has reportedly draughted a “three-tier” list of countries that he may ban from entering the country.
FIFA has already banned three nations from the competition: Pakistan and Congo, the former for their “failure to adopt a revision of the PFF constitution,” and Russia for their invasion of Ukraine. The latter two were banned for “alleged third-party interference in its affairs.” However, the biggest international football tournament might suffer even more as a result of the United States’ possible additional penalties.
Iran and Cameroon Among Teams That Could be Banned From World Cup
Iran have already qualified for the tournament
Several nations who are anticipated to compete in the World Cup next year, like as Venezuela and Cameroon, may be prohibited from doing so if Trump’s travel restriction is approved. Iran, who have already purchased their tickets for the event after qualifying by winning the AFC Group A table ahead of Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, the hosts in 2022, would also not be allowed to participate.
According to the New York Times, the countries have been divided into three groups as a result of the travel ban. A complete travel restriction is imposed on individuals who violate the first. Visas for citizens of these countries are “sharply restricted” in the second, while those in the third group are given “60 days to address concerns.”
Iran would be subject to a complete travel restriction, joining countries like North Korea and Venezuela, which may seriously jeopardise their participation in the competition. Other nations including Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Cape Verde might potentially be eligible but could still be expelled.
Although it is still unclear whether the reported list will be approved or if anything will change, beIN Sports has stated that discussions between FIFA and the US government are already in progress to try and find a way to permit nations like Iran to attend the competition without any restrictions.
Countries That Could Face a Travel Ban from the US
Complete Bans on Visas
Visa Suspensions in Part
Recommended Nations for Partial Suspension
Afghanistan
Belarus
Angola
Bhutan
Eritrea
Barbuda and Antigua
Cuba
Haiti
Benin
Iran
Laos
Burkina Faso
Libya
Myanmar
The Cabo Verde
North Korea
Pakistan
Cambodia
The Somalia
Russia
Cameroon
Sudan
Sierra Leone
Chad
Syria
South Sudan
DR Congo
Venezuela
The Turkmenistan
The Dominican Republic
Equatorial Guinea
Gambia
Liberia
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Republic of the Congo
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Sao Tome and Principe
Vanuatu
Zimbabwe
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