The White House has announced that the Trump administration`s recently implemented travel restrictions will not affect players, coaches, and other team personnel participating in this summer`s FIFA Club World Cup and Concacaf Gold Cup events held in the United States. These tournaments fall under a specific exemption within the new policy.
President Donald Trump recently issued a proclamation establishing full or partial travel bans on individuals from 19 countries, though certain exceptions apply. The list of nations subject to full restrictions includes Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. This list could potentially impact teams in both the Club World Cup and Gold Cup. For instance, Haiti is competing in the Gold Cup and is scheduled to play the U.S. men`s national team on June 22. Additionally, Inter Milan, a finalist in the UEFA Champions League and set to play in the Club World Cup, includes Iranian international Mehdi Taremi on their squad.
However, the presidential order explicitly includes an exemption for athletes and staff attending major international sporting events in the U.S. This specifically names the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the Olympic Games in 2028. The policy further extends this exception to `other major sporting events as determined by the Secretary of State,` a category that has been confirmed to include the upcoming Club World Cup and Gold Cup tournaments.
This article provides clarification on how these new travel regulations intersect with the world of soccer, especially given the number of significant sports events scheduled to take place in the United States over the next few years.
Which countries are impacted by the travel ban?
Travelers from 12 countries face full restrictions: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Travelers from seven other countries – Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela – are subject to partial restrictions. The proclamation specifies that these rules apply to both immigrants and nonimmigrants, while making distinctions between them.
These new travel policies are scheduled to take effect on Monday but are not expected to impact individuals who hold visas issued before this date or those who are green card holders.
Which exemptions apply to soccer players?
The proclamation lists several situations that grant exemption from the travel ban, notably including athletes and support staff traveling to the U.S. for major sports competitions. While the World Cup and Olympics were explicitly mentioned, a spokesperson for the White House confirmed that the Club World Cup and Gold Cup are among the events covered by this exemption.
Haiti`s men`s national team will participate in the Gold Cup this summer. Furthermore, several players competing in the Club World Cup are from countries listed in the proclamation. For example, Josna Loulendo of Al Ain is from the Republic of Congo.
Concerning countries facing partial travel bans, several players participating in the Club World Cup hail from these nations. Notable examples include Togo`s Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba and Roger Aholou, who play for Al Ain and Esperanza de Tunis, respectively, and Venezuela`s Matías Lacava and Salomon Rondon, who play for Ulsan HD and Pachuca, respectively.
How else will soccer be impacted by the travel ban?
While the exemption provides clarity for players and team staff, it could potentially create difficulties for fans planning to travel to the U.S. for these or other upcoming sporting events.
There is also some uncertainty about which future competitions will be granted a similar exemption status. The U.S. frequently hosts international preseason friendly matches involving visiting teams each summer, and Major League Soccer (MLS) annually holds the Leagues Cup tournament with Liga MX teams.
Even before this recent proclamation, some players had encountered travel-related concerns during the previous Trump administration, which led to caution about leaving the U.S. In April, four NWSL players from Zambia were withdrawn from their team`s roster for games in China because Zambian federation officials expressed concerns about U.S. travel policies. In the same month, Venezuelan NWSL player Deyna Castellanos did not join her national team squad due to a lack of clear information regarding U.S. travel regulations.
Adrian Whitmore 
Benedict Kingsley