World Cup 2026: The US Slams the Gates as Fan Bans Target Senegal, Ivory Coast, Iran, and Haiti

Overview for World Cup 2026

In a move shaping the fan experience for the 2026 World Cup, the United States continues to tighten entry rules for spectators. The tournament will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Who is Affected and Why?

According to The Independent, the White House has decided to ban fans from Senegal and Ivory Coast from entering the United States, joining Iran and Haiti in the restrictions. The policy could extend to about 15 countries in total.

Officials justify the decision on national security grounds, citing higher rates of visa overstay among tourists and concerns about corruption and reliability of civil documents.

The Independent notes there are exceptions for players, team staff, and their immediate relatives traveling for major events such as the World Cup.

The ban is reportedly set to cover other countries, with partial restrictions on 15 additional states as part of a broader immigration crackdown.

Meanwhile, 42 teams have already qualified for a 48-team World Cup, with six more spots to be decided in March via European and global playoffs.

The World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19 across three host nations, and security measures are expected to intensify as kickoff approaches.

Punchline: If gatekeeping were a sport, someone just scored a hat-trick.

Punchline 2: In border-control terms, the only thing crossing borders right now are the punchlines in this article.