The White House has clarified that the Trump administration`s recently announced travel restrictions will not prevent athletes and other team personnel from entering the U.S. for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup and Concacaf Gold Cup this summer. These tournaments are covered under a specific exemption within the new policy.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation imposing full or partial entry bans on individuals from 19 countries, with certain exceptions. The list of nations facing full travel bans includes Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. This list could have potentially affected teams and players participating in both the Club World Cup and Gold Cup. Notably, Haiti is scheduled to compete in the Gold Cup and face the U.S. men`s national team in a group stage match on June 22. Furthermore, UEFA Champions League finalists Inter Milan feature Iran international Mehdi Taremi on their roster, who is expected to participate in the Club World Cup.
However, the proclamation includes a specific exception for athletes and staff attending major sporting events in the United States. The World Cup and Olympics, scheduled for 2026 and 2028 respectively, were explicitly mentioned. The policy also includes an exemption for “other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State,” a category that, according to reports, encompasses the Club World Cup and Gold Cup.
This clarification provides insight into how the new travel policy affects soccer, especially with several high-profile international sports events set to be held in the U.S. in the coming years.
Which Countries Are Affected by the Travel Restrictions?
Travelers from 12 countries face complete restrictions: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Individuals from seven additional countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—will encounter partial restrictions. The proclamation indicates that these limitations differentiate between immigrant and nonimmigrant entries but apply to both categories.
These new travel measures are scheduled to take effect on Monday. They are not anticipated to impact individuals who were issued visas prior to this date or those who hold green cards.
What Exemptions Apply to Soccer Players?
The proclamation outlines several exceptions to the ban, including one for athletes and support staff traveling to the U.S. for significant sporting events. While the World Cup and Olympics were named specifically, a White House spokesperson confirmed that the Club World Cup and Gold Cup are among the events covered by this exemption.
Haiti`s men`s national team is participating in the Gold Cup this summer. Several players scheduled to compete in the Club World Cup also come from nations listed in the proclamation. For example, Josna Loulendo of Al Ain is from the Republic of Congo.
Regarding countries facing partial travel restrictions, the Club World Cup includes several players from these nations. This list includes Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba and Roger Aholou from Togo, who play for Al Ain and Espérance de Tunis respectively, and Matías Lacava and Salomon Rondón from Venezuela, who play for Ulsan HD and Pachuca respectively.
Potential Wider Impacts of the Travel Ban on Soccer
While players and staff benefit from an exemption, the travel restrictions could pose challenges for fans planning to travel to the U.S. for these or other upcoming sporting events.
Another question concerns which future competitions will qualify for the exemption. The U.S. typically hosts preseason friendly matches for international clubs each summer, and Major League Soccer teams face their Liga MX counterparts annually in the Leagues Cup.
Even before the recent proclamation, some players were advised against leaving the U.S. due to concerns about travel policies during the second Trump administration. In April, four NWSL players from Zambia were withdrawn from their team`s roster for games in China, with their federation citing travel policy uncertainties. In the same month, fellow NWSL player Deyna Castellanos did not join the Venezuela squad, also due to a lack of clarity on U.S. travel policies.
