Overview
- President Trump’s June 4 executive order bars entry to fans from 12 nations—including Iran, Libya and Yemen—and imposes stringent restrictions on seven more.
- New visa requirements demand social media disclosures and escalate screening at U.S. borders, halting student visa processing and detaining some travelers.
- Backlogs for embassy interviews have soared to as many as 700 days in Colombia, 560 days in Turkey and 332 days in Morocco, risking exclusion of thousands of supporters.
- Despite adopting a human rights strategy for the 2026 tournament, FIFA has not publicly challenged the travel ban or pressed for policy reversals.
- Hosts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico must now address diplomatic tensions and guarantee that all qualified teams, media and fans can participate without discrimination.