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On Wednesday night, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a travel ban against twelve countries, with the news significant because FIFA are hosting two tournaments in the country over the next thirteen months.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly signed executive order banning travel from 12 countries — including Iran, Sudan, and Venezuela — could cast a long shadow over the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup set to kick off in the United States on June 14.
While exemptions exist for major sporting events, the Club World Cup isn’t explicitly named in the order, leaving FIFA and affected players in uncertain territory.
Here are seven potential ways Trump’s travel bans could impact this summer’s Club World Cup:
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1. Players From Banned Nations May Be Barred From Entry
Some participating clubs in the Club World Cup feature players from countries under full travel bans. For instance, Mohamed Awadalla of Sudan (Al-Ain) and Mehdi Taremi of Iran (Inter Milan) could be affected unless they’re granted exemptions.
The executive order’s athlete carve-out is limited to events explicitly recognized by the U.S. Secretary of State — and the Club World Cup is not currently among them.
2. Lack of Clarity on Exemptions for the Club World Cup
The travel ban provides exemptions for athletes and teams competing in the World Cup, Olympics, or “other major sporting events as determined by the Secretary of State.”
But as of now, it remains unclear whether the Club World Cup qualifies as such. FIFA and The Athletic have reached out to the U.S. State Department, but no formal designation has been made public.
3. Players From Partially Banned Nations Still at Risk
Even countries facing partial bans — such as Venezuela — could be affected. Players like Salomón Rondón (Pachuca) and Jefferson Savarino (Botafogo) may avoid complications due to their use of the P-1 visa, which covers internationally recognized athletes.
However, the lack of a blanket exemption still creates uncertainty.
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4. Ticket-Holding Fans From Banned Countries May Not Be Allowed Entry
FIFA says fans from more than 130 countries have already bought tickets for the tournament. However, supporters from banned nations like Haiti, Iran, and Sudan may not be allowed into the U.S. unless they are U.S. permanent residents, dual nationals, or traveling for official business.
As of now, there’s no indication that general supporters will be granted entry.
5. FIFA Faces Pressure to Secure Exemptions — Fast
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If high-profile players or key matches are affected, FIFA may face mounting pressure to secure temporary travel exemptions to avoid international embarrassment.
With the tournament just days away, time is running out to clarify travel status for players and staff from impacted countries.
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6. The Ban Could Threaten Match Integrity
If key players are barred from entering the country, it could skew competition, especially in closely matched ties.
Teams missing essential starters due to visa complications might argue that their sporting integrity is compromised — raising concerns for FIFA and broadcasters alike.
7. Future Tournament Participation May Be Affected
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Though the 2026 FIFA World Cup — also hosted by the U.S. — contains athlete exemptions in the executive order, the repetitive nature of travel bans could discourage teams and federations from full engagement with U.S.-based tournaments.
In the long term, FIFA may need to reassess tournament logistics if fan and team access can't be guaranteed.
While the Club World Cup promises high-stakes international football, Trump’s sweeping travel bans could turn it into a diplomatic balancing act — one that FIFA may not have anticipated when choosing the U.S. as host.
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