Two Travel-Banned Nations—Iran and Haiti—Now Headed to the 2026 World Cup in the USA

The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has taken a political turn after Iran and Haiti qualified for the tournament. Both nations are currently on Donald Trump’s U.S. travel ban list, creating new questions about visas, attendance, and team arrangements for next summer’s event.

A total of 42 countries have already secured their place. But this qualification round has triggered unusual concerns, especially in the United States, where the World Cup will be hosted.

Two Travel-Banned Countries Make It to the World Cup

Iran qualified for the World Cup for the seventh time. They topped their AFC group with 23 points. Soon after, reports confirmed that their delegation had been blocked from attending the group-stage draw on December 5.

Under Trump’s revived travel ban, most Iranian citizens cannot enter the U.S. unless they meet strict and rare exceptions.

Haiti also earned a spot after beating Nicaragua 2–0. This is their second-ever World Cup appearance. But Haiti is also on Trump’s restricted entry list because U.S. officials describe the country as having “high security risk” concerns.

While Haitian-Americans and green-card holders have different rules, the country’s inclusion still raises major logistical questions for fans, officials, and team staff.

Will Iran and Haiti Be Allowed to Enter the U.S.?

Athletes playing in major global events such as the World Cup are exempt from the ban. Coaches and close family members are also expected to receive permission.

For fans, the situation is more complicated. Many supporters from Iran and Haiti had already started planning to travel, but the ban created confusion.

To manage the issue, Trump’s administration announced a special system:

FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (PASS)

• Ticket holders get priority visa appointments
• 400 new U.S. consular officers have been deployed
• Fans are promised interview slots within 6–8 weeks
• Approval is still not guaranteed

Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that only the appointment is prioritized, not the visa approval itself.

A Political Twist to a Global Tournament

Trump has already warned he may remove hosting rights from cities he believes are unsafe. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the U.S. president does have that authority.

With the World Cup less than a year away, political pressure continues to rise. Many analysts say the situation could create fresh tensions between FIFA, the U.S. government, and the two newly qualified nations.

Fans, meanwhile, are hoping sports will win over politics.