World Cup thrown into chaos as Trump blocks fans of 15 nations from entering the US
The 2026 World Cup has been handed another serious obstacle to overcome after fans from 15 competing nations had their visa applications frozen by Donald Trump.
The State Department released an internal memo on Wednesday that directed consular officers to deny visas from 75 different countries while the department reexamines procedures for screening and vetting applicants.
Of those 75, 15 are due to compete in this summer’s tournament across the US, Mexico and Canada - including one of the big favorites: Brazil.
Remarkably, three of the four teams in Scotland’s Group C are affected by the visa chaos, with Brazil, Morocco and Haiti all included on Trump’s red list.
That could mean emptier stadiums for all of Scotland’s group-stage matches, with games taking place in Foxborough (vs Haiti and Morocco) and Miami (vs Brazil).
Algeria, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Iran, Jordan, Senegal, Tunisia, Uruguay and Uzbekistan are the other nations affected by the bombshell plans.
Donald Trump has wreaked visa chaos ahead of the World Cup by freezing visas for 75 nations
The State Department is expected to implement the indefinite freeze on January 21, and the Daily Mail has reached out to FIFA for further clarification on how fans of those nations are likely to be affected.
The memo sent out on Wednesday directs consular officers to deny visas applicants who will need to rely on public benefits upon entry to the US.
Officers are also instructed to weigh a variety of factors for applicants, including health, age, and English proficiency.
‘The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,’ State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said.
‘Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.’
