• football

'A World Cup not for fans'

• 20 Hours Ago

Fans are struggling to get to the USA for the Fifa World Cup which begins in a few days.

Iraqi and several other football fans from countries that qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have expressed frustration over US travel bans, strict visa requirements, and high visa rejection rates, with many saying the tournament feels like “a World Cup for them, not us.”

One such supporter, Iraqi fan Abdulla Adnan, bought tickets to watch his country's matches in the United States but was unable to secure a visa. After traveling to Jordan for an appointment, he was informed that he could not apply there because he was not a Jordanian citizen, leaving him with losses of around $1,800.

Supporters from countries including Haiti, Iran, Senegal, and Ivory Coast say US immigration restrictions have made attending the tournament extremely difficult. Leaders of fan associations argue that football is a global event that should be accessible to supporters from every participating nation.

BBC analysis found that 11 of the 48 qualified countries recorded US visa refusal rates of more than 40%, with Senegal having the highest rate at over 70% during the period reviewed. Although FIFA introduced a FIFA Pass system to help ticket holders obtain priority visa interview appointments, immigration experts note that it does not improve the likelihood of visa approval.

The US State Department says it is prepared to welcome visitors from around the world but maintains that every application is reviewed individually through a rigorous security process to ensure applicants meet US immigration requirements.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, many affected supporters believe that restrictive visa policies are preventing fans from fully participating in football’s biggest celebration.