At the World Cup in summer and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, spectators from 39 countries will not be allowed to enter the USA. In addition to the two top events, the US government led by President Donald Trump has now classified other sports competitions as major events for which there are exceptions.
However, these only affect athletes, coaches and supervisors from the participating nations. This emerges from a letter from the US State Department sent to all US embassies and consulates, as reported by the AP news agency.
Competitions with exemptions include Formula 1 races, games from the major professional leagues NBA, NFL, NHL and golf tournaments. However, it is clarified that foreign spectators, media representatives and sponsors from those countries wishing to attend the same events remained barred from entry unless they received another exemption. “Only a small proportion of travelers to the World Cup, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and other major sporting events will benefit from this exemption,” it said.
DFB opponents Ivory Coast are also affected at the World Cup
A total of 39 countries are affected by entry bans – the complete ban affects, for example, fans of World Cup participants Iran and Haiti. There is also a partial entry ban for citizens of countries such as Senegal and Ivory Coast, which will face the German team in the preliminary round of the World Cup.
In addition to the World Cup, the Olympics and the Paralympics, other major events include, for example, the associated qualifying events or the Pan American Games or sporting events that are organized, approved or recognized by a US national sports association.
Most recently, the USA also suspended the processing of certain visa procedures for permanent residence in the United States for 75 countries. The Foreign Ministry did not disclose which countries would be affected by the new restrictions.
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