Trump's Expanded Travel Restrictions Threaten Senegal and Ivory Coast Fans' Access to 2026 World Cup Matches in the US

 Fans from Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) face significant barriers to attending their national teams' group stage matches in the United States during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following President Donald Trump's signing of a new proclamation on December 16, 2025, imposing partial travel restrictions on nationals of both countries.

The restrictions, cited by the White House as addressing high visa overstay rates (approximately 4-8% for B1/B2 visitor visas required for tourism), suspend entry for immigrants and non-immigrants, including tourists planning to attend the tournament co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Senegal's group matches against France and Norway are scheduled at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, while Côte d'Ivoire will play Ecuador and Curaçao at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia—both in the US. Their respective third group games are in Toronto, Canada, unaffected by the US policy.

Exemptions apply to athletes, coaches, support staff, diplomats, and individuals deemed to serve US national interests, ensuring players like Senegal's Nicolas Jackson and Iliman Ndiaye, or Côte d'Ivoire's Amad Diallo, can participate without issue. However, ordinary fans are not covered, potentially forcing thousands to watch from home or limit attendance to Canadian venues.

The move adds Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire to a growing list of restricted nations, joining Haiti and Iran (already under stricter bans) among qualified teams. A White House task force has introduced fast-track visa processing for ticket holders, but its applicability to restricted countries remains unclear.

FIFA has historically insisted that qualifying teams' supporters must have access to host nations, as stated by President Gianni Infantino in 2017. No immediate response has come from FIFA or the affected football federations.

The restrictions take effect January 1, 2026, amid broader immigration enforcement priorities.

For updates, monitor official US State Department and FIFA channels.

“Injustice!” – Raphinha’s Wife Natalia Rodrigues Blasts FIFA Over The Best Men’s XI Snub

 Natalia Rodrigues, wife of FC Barcelona star Raphinha, has publicly condemned FIFA’s decision to exclude her husband from The Best FIFA Men’s XI for 2025, branding the omission a clear “injustice” in a series of now-deleted Instagram stories.

The Brazilian winger, who delivered an outstanding 2024/25 season with Barcelona—contributing 62 goals and assists across all competitions while helping the club secure La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup titles—was notably absent from the final XI announced during The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony in Doha on December 16, 2025.

In her passionate posts, Rodrigues highlighted Raphinha’s impressive statistics, writing: “62 G/A… But he didn’t deserve to be included in the XI.” She followed with direct criticisms: “They don’t even try to hide it anymore!”, “INJUSTICE!”, and sarcastically, “Is Raphinha a Basketball player?!” The stories quickly went viral before being removed.

The Best FIFA Men’s XI featured a strong PSG contingent, including Ousmane Dembélé (who won The Best Men’s Player award), alongside Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Pedri, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, and others. Raphinha, despite finishing fifth in the 2025 Ballon d’Or and earning La Liga Player of the Season honors, placed fifth among attackers in the voting.

Rodrigues’ outburst echoes widespread sentiment among Barcelona fans and analysts, who view the snub as the latest in a series of overlooked recognitions for the 28-year-old forward. Raphinha himself has previously responded to similar exclusions by sharing his achievements on social media.

The couple, who share a long-standing relationship and a young son, are known for their strong family bond and mutual support in the spotlight of professional football.

“2026 World Cup winners to take home $50 million — FIFA

 International Federation of Association Football, FIFA, has revealed that the champions of the 2026 World Cup will receive a record $50 million in prize money, part of a total $655 million tournament fund.

This represents a nearly 50 percent increase from the $440 million awarded at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Next year’s tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, will feature 48 teams for the first time, up from 32 in previous editions.

Under the new prize structure, the runners-up will receive $33 million, third-place finishers $29 million, and the other semi-finalists $27 million.

Teams eliminated in the group stage will earn $9 million, while each of the 48 participants will receive an additional $1.5 million to cover preparation costs.

FIFA’s announcement follows the 2022 World Cup, where Argentina pocketed $42 million after defeating France in a dramatic penalty shootout.

France, as runners-up, received $30 million. The governing body has emphasised that the increased prize fund aims to reward performance and support the broader development of participating nations.

The 2026 World Cup is set to be the most lucrative and widely participated tournament in history, offering unprecedented financial incentives for all competing nations.