The Trump administration has decided to bar fans from two countries from attending the 2026 World Cup matches in the United States.
The US administration has been pursuing strict immigration policies, and the Secretary of State stated this week that obtaining a ticket to the World Cup does not necessarily guarantee a visa to enter the United States.
According to the New York Times, the Trump administration also decided not to change its previous decision to ban citizens of 19 countries from entering the United States.
Among these banned countries are Iran and Haiti, both of which will participate in the 2026 World Cup.
There were hopes in Haiti, in particular, that it would be granted an exception allowing all its fans to travel to the US. However, the United States is sticking to its previous decision and will only allow players, their immediate families, and essential team personnel to enter its territory, thanks to an exclusive exemption for major sporting events.
It should be noted that this decision does not mean there will be no Iranian or Haitian fans at the World Cup matches, but rather it applies only to fans residing outside the United States. Those already within the US can attend like any other fans.
It is worth mentioning that Haiti qualified for the 2026 World Cup for the first time since 1974, while Iran secured its qualification last summer for the fourth consecutive time.
