As the US prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, President Donald Trump’s renewed travel ban is raising uncertainty over how accessible these events will be to foreign visitors. Though Trump has repeatedly expressed enthusiasm for both sporting events, his administration’s latest restrictions have sparked questions about who will actually be able to attend.
Among the affected nations is Iran, one of Asia’s top soccer teams and the only banned country to have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Others like Cuba, Haiti, and Sudan remain in contention.
Fortunately for the teams, athletes, coaches, and essential staff are exempt from the ban under current policy. This ensures that qualifying teams, even from countries under restrictions, can still compete.
The forecast is far less clear for fans. The travel ban does not currently provide any exceptions for spectators from the targeted countries, meaning supporters hoping to cheer on their nations at these events could be barred from entering the US unless policy changes. Seven years after FIFA announced that the United States, Canada, and Mexico would co-host the 2026 World Cup, President Trump convened the first meeting of his administration's 2026 World Cup task force. Questions are already being asked about whether the United States is ready to host the most prestigious sporting tournament in the world, with concerns being raised about visas, infrastructure, and poor security technology, among other issues. So, is America prepared to welcome millions of soccer fans next year, or is it on course to score an embarrassing own goal?
Click through the following gallery and see if the United States is set for soccer's big moment.