US denies visas to over 500 Ivory Coast World Cup fans

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to begin on Thursday, June 11, supporters of the Ivory Coast national team based in their home country have been unable to secure visas to travel to the United States, forcing them to cancel their planned trips. The announcement was made by Julien Kouadio Adonis, president of the National Committee of Elephants Supporters, an organization linked to the country's sports ministry.

Adonis stated that the visa refusals have compelled many fans to shelve their plans, directly impacting a group that had hoped to send more than 500 supporters to follow the team. He characterized the situation as a form of segregation, questioning why African nations were facing such restrictions when no European countries had been similarly affected. "The supporters have cancelled the trip because the US government does not want to see supporters from certain countries, including Ivory Coast, on its soil," Adonis said. "This situation hurts us deeply because it prevents us from fulfilling our sacred duty, which is to support our team."

The issue adds to a series of visa-related controversies in the lead-up to the tournament. Earlier reports indicated that a Somali...