Overview
- This week, home-based supporters from Ivory Coast and Senegal said they were denied U.S. visas and cancelled planned trips, leaving both nations with far fewer fans at matches in the United States.
- Allianz Trade data shows roughly a third of fan visa applications from non‑European countries are being rejected, with rejection rates of about 74% for Senegalese applicants and 61% for Iranian applicants.
- Referees and team officials have also been affected: Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry, Iran reported at least 15 officials refused visas, and Iran moved parts of its operation to Tijuana to cope with U.S. limits on entry.
- FIFA has said it cannot override host-country immigration decisions, while reporting attributes the exclusions to U.S. border vetting and expanded travel restrictions under the current administration.
- The immediate effects include federations reallocating tickets to diaspora communities, disrupted match routines for teams, and a likely shift of some spectator demand toward Canada and Mexico as federations pursue ad hoc workarounds.