Ivory Coast fans denied entry to the United States

Abidjan – AFP.

Ivorians will not be able to accompany their country’s national team in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, due to their inability to obtain entry visas, according to what Agence France-Presse learned Thursday from the head of the National Committee for Fans, which usually organizes their movements.

US President Donald Trump’s very strict immigration policy poses difficulties for some nationalities to enter the United States, and has affected even those involved in the game, such as Somali referee Omar Arten, who was denied entry despite having a regular visa.

Julien Kouadio Adonis, head of the National Elephants Fans Committee, said in a statement to Agence France-Presse, “The fans have given up traveling because the American state does not want to see fans from some countries, including Ivory Coast, on its soil. The United States was clear with us when it said that it does not want to receive our fans.”

He added, “This situation hurts us a lot because it prevents us from performing our basic duty, which is to support our team. We could have highlighted our culture and experience in encouraging teams from the stands,” noting that the National Fans Committee is affiliated with the Ministry of Sports.

Only a limited number of officials from the National Fan Committee were allowed to travel to the United States, unlike the previous three participations in the World Cup (2006, 2010, and 2014) or during the African Cup of Nations finals, where the authority usually sent dozens of fans.

In March, Coadio previously expressed his hope of sending 500 fans to the United States.

He explained that the role of the few officials allowed to travel will be to manage the Ivory Coast fans residing in the United States, adding that even the representatives of the authority “did not obtain visas easily at all, as we had to negotiate and discuss in order to make our voice heard.”

“Your ticket is not a visa,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned earlier this year.

These restrictions are in addition to the significant increase in match ticket prices, increasing criticism directed at a tournament that is seen as out of touch with the football fan base.

The Ivory Coast team is scheduled to play two of its three group stage matches in the United States (on the 15th and 25th in Philadelphia against Ecuador and Curacao), while its other match will be held in Toronto, Canada (on the 20th against Germany).