Trump Travel Ban: World Cup & Olympics Impact
The U.S. travel ban, restricting entry for passport holders from 12 nations, carves out exemptions for athletes and teams competing in major sporting events like the Olympics and the World Cup. This pivotal decision ensures that international sports stars can participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. The IOC is highly confident that all participants will be able to enter the country, as the federal government has provided assurances. News Directory 3 keeps you updated on the breaking news. Discover what’s next for international sports with these travel regulations.
Sports Stars Get Travel Ban Exemptions for Olympics, World Cup
The United States currently bars passport holders from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, sudan and Yemen. Additionally,Burundi,Cuba,Laos,Sierra Leone,Togo,Turkmenistan and Venezuela face significant,though not total,travel restrictions.
However, the travel ban contains an exemption for athletes, coaches, support staff and immediate relatives traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting events as resolute by the secretary of state. This provision ensures participation in events hosted or co-hosted by the U.S., including the 2026 FIFA World Cup (co-hosted with Canada and Mexico) and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
Nicole Hoevertsz, IOC vice president and chair of the LA28 coordination commission, noted that 206 countries are preparing to participate in the Games.She expressed confidence that the federal government’s guarantee will ensure all participants can enter the country.
“The federal government has given us that guarantee … to make sure that these participants will be able to enter the country… We are very confident that this is going to be accomplished.”
What’s next
Preparations continue for the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, with assurances in place to accommodate international participants despite existing travel restrictions.