June 6 – US President Donald Trump who loves nothing more that issuing executive orders has implemented another travel ban, though fine print includes a potential exemption for players, staff, and families associated with clubs participating in the 2025 Club World Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup, or 2028 Olympics.
Twelve countries face outright bans while seven more have restrictions. Nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen will be fully restricted from entering the US. Citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will face partial restrictions.
This executive order puts FIFA in a difficult position.
Despite the bromance between Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, it remains unclear whether the ban will be enforced on players and staff. The timing is particularly problematic with World Cup qualifiers approaching – Venezuela has three players on its squad who play in Major League Soccer (MLS).
They are scheduled to play two World Cup qualifiers: against Bolivia on Friday and Uruguay on Tuesday. Trump’s travel ban takes effect Monday, June 9.
It would be a huge black-eye for FIFA if these players were subjected to the ‘ICE treatment’ many visitors and eligible nationals have received since Trump regained the White House
The newly expanded Club World Cup faces similar complications, as competing teams employ players who are technically banned or restricted. These include Inter Miami’s Telasco Segovia (Venezuela), Botafogo’s Jefferson Savarino (Venezuela), Espérance de Tunis’s Roger Aholou (Togo), LAFC’s David Martínez (Venezuela), Internazionale’s Mehdi Taremi (Iran), Ulsan’s Matías Lacava (Venezuela), Al-Ain’s Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba (Togo), Josna Loulendo (Republic of Congo), Mohamed Awadalla (Sudan), and Pachuca’s Salomón Rondón (Venezuela).
With Iran already qualified for next summer’s World Cup, this situation could create a significant political challenge for Infantino and his relationship with Trump. It also threatens to deny millions of fans the opportunity to support and witness the world’s largest sporting event, whose mission – FIFA keeps telling us – centers on bringing the world together through football.
FIFA stripped the hosting of the under-20 World Cup from Indonesia in April 2023
following protests in the country against the participation of Israel and some states saying they would refuse the entry of an Israeli team. Would FIFA follow its same principles and do the same for the 2026 World Cup if players are banned from travelling to compete in the Club World Cup this June and again at the World Cup in 2026?
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