Trump's Travel Bans: A Dark Cloud Hovering Over Sports
Trump's immigration policy targeted at select countries creates a mood of foreboding within sports communities
Let's chat about the potential mess U.S. President Donald John Trump's travel restrictions might cause in the world of sports.
In 2006 and 2010, people from around the globe united to let loose and celebrate in Germany and South Africa for the World Cups. sporting events like these are known for their international fan gatherings. And wouldn't you know it, Trump's show politics may just shatter this global camaraderie.
Trump's infamous travel bans target citizens from twelve countries - Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The banned citizens face a travel ban, claimed by Trump as a means to shield American citizens from "foreign terrorists." The sanction will be enforced starting June 9.
Now, you're probably wondering, "What has this got to do with sports?" Well, hold onto your seats because it's about to get bumpy. The United States is preparing to host several major sporting events, including the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, the 2026 World Cup, and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Athletes Can Party, But Not All Fans Can Stay
As it stands, no teams from the affected countries will take part in the Club World Cup. However, players from Sudan, Venezuela, and Iran are part of the 32 teams' squads. It is expected that Iran, having already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, will be represented at the event. As for the Olympics, it is expected that athletes from all banned countries will participate in L.A. In July, the North and Central American version of UEFA, the Concacaf, will host the Gold Cup in the U.S., with Haiti, one of the affected countries, participating.
However, there's a loophole that makes us wonder, "Dare we hope?" Section 4 of the order exempts "all athletes or members of a sports team, including coaches, persons who perform a necessary supporting function, and immediate family members traveling to World Cup, the Olympics, or another major sporting event designated by the Secretary of State." The Gold Cup would need to be designated as one of these major sporting events by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to allow Haiti to participate.
Iran Protest, FIFA Remains Silent
While Iran's participation in the World Cup seems feasible for now, it's unlikely that fans of Iran will be able to cheer from the U.S. sidelines under the decreed rules. The Iranian news portal "Shia-News" already labelled Trump's order as "simply crazy." FIFA President Gianni Infantino should act swiftly to avoid a catastrophic sports event fiasco. The World Cup is far from a platform for political disputes.
FIFA refused to comment on the latest developments from the White House as of Thursday. It just referred to a meeting held in May. The football governing body had no comment on possible restrictions on Iranian fans and other countries.
US Vice President JD Vance said last month that foreign visitors to the 2026 World Cup will be welcomed but will have to depart after the tournament. FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his faith in the Trump administration, declaring, "The whole world will focus on the USA, and the USA will welcome the world." Infantino also spoke about the upcoming FIFA tournaments generating around 50 billion euros in economic output and nearly 300,000 jobs.
Sources: ntv.de, sue
Fun Fact:
FIFA Club World Cup gathers teams from UEFA, CONMEBOL, and other confederations; potential restrictive policies could lead to logistical challenges for participating teams, possibly affecting their overall experience in the tournament.
The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment, considering the potential impact of President Trump's travel bans on global events such as the FIFA Club World Cup, the 2026 World Cup, and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
In politics and general news, it remains unclear if foreign fans of the participating teams will be allowed to attend these upcoming sporting events in the United States due to the travel restrictions, potentially causing logistical challenges and impacting the overall experience for the teams.
