Trump’s impact on football: World Cup travel bans to the US.
African nations Senegal and the Ivory Coast were drawn in Group I and Group E of the World Cup earlier this month, respectively, but fans from those countries could be barred from watching games on U.S. soil.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration issued a partial travel ban on nationals of Senegal and the Ivory Coast, along with several other African nations, suspending their entry into the United States.
The move follows previous travel restrictions imposed on citizens of other countries, including Iran and Haiti, who are set to compete in next summer’s World Cup.
The ban means that neither immigrants nor non-immigrants from those countries can enter the United States. The ban also applies to tourists traveling to the country for the tournament or for business.
The initial travel ban, issued in June, was intended to “restrict the entry of foreign nationals to protect the United States” from threats to national security and public safety.
While the ban is likely to affect fans traveling to the United States to watch their team play, there are exemptions for players, coaching staff, and their immediate families.
This means Everton star Illiman Ndiaye and Manchester United midfielder Amad Diallo, who play for Senegal and the Ivory Coast respectively, can travel with their teams.
The World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico between June and July.
Senegal has been drawn in Group A with France, the 2018 champions, as well as Norway and the winner of a play-off between Bolivia, Iraq, or Suriname.
Senegal’s two games are scheduled to be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where they will face France and Norway.
Meanwhile, there will be one game that fans can attend, as the Senegalese Lions play the winner of the playoff in Toronto, Canada.
Ivory Coast is also scheduled to play two of its group games in the United States. Their matches against Ecuador and Curacao will be held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.