Mass visa denials block World Cup fans from Morocco, Ghana and other nations

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to kick off on June 11, fans from across the Global South are finding themselves shut out of the tournament despite holding tickets and spending thousands on travel preparations. Mass visa refusals have hit supporters from Morocco, Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Egypt, Senegal, and other nations, while the U.S. hospitality industry warns that restrictive immigration procedures are suppressing international demand across all 11 American host cities.

Moroccan Fans Hit Hard

The scale of rejections has drawn particular attention in Morocco, where 40 out of 42 members of the Sports Association of Moroccan National Team Fans were denied U.S. visas without explanation, according to the group's leader Azeddine Atraoui. Fans had followed all FIFA instructions, purchasing three-match packages costing between $500 and $1,500 each, paying visa fees, and attending consular interviews with full documentation.moroccoworldnews.com+1

"They went to the embassy, paid visa fees, but were shocked to be denied visas," Atraoui told Al Jazeera. Nearly 150 fans from Ghana also had their applications denied last month, Al Jazeera reported. Fans from 27 of the 48 participating nations require a U.S. visa, with application fees ranging from $185 to $435 — sums that represent months of earnings for many in the Global South.Al Jazeera English+1

Hospitality Industry Sounds Alarm

The American Hotel and Lodging Association has warned that visa delays and geopolitical uncertainties are dragging hotel bookings below expectations. A survey found that 65 to 70 percent of hotel operators in host cities cited visa hurdles and geopolitical instability as factors "significantly suppressing international demand". The AHLA has urged U.S. officials to accelerate visa processing.nypost+1

The U.S. State Department has pointed to its FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System, noting that 80 percent of visa interviews are arranged within two months for ticket holders. But officials have stressed that holding a ticket does not guarantee approval.spectrumlocalnews+2

Iran's Team Cleared, but Restrictions Remain

In a separate saga, Iran's national team received U.S. visas on June 5 after weeks of uncertainty, just 10 days before their opening match against New Zealand in Los Angeles. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack confirmed the approvals in a post on X. However, several support staff — including the head of the Iranian football federation — were denied visas, and the team was told it must enter and exit U.S. territory on the same day as each match. Iran has established its World Cup base camp in Tijuana, Mexico.aljazeera+5

A U.S. administration spokesperson stated: "We will not allow the Iranian team to misuse this system to smuggle terrorists into the United States under false pretenses".nytimes