State Department lists major sporting events exempt from Trump’s visa ban

The Trump administration has announced the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games, as well as several “major sporting events” that will allow athletes and coaches to come to the U.S. to compete with exemptions from a broad visa ban on nearly 40 countries.

In a cable sent to all U.S. embassies and consulates on Wednesday, the State Department said athletes, coaches and support staff for the World Cup, the Olympics and events sanctioned or operated by a long list of collegiate and professional sports leagues and associations will be excluded from full and partial travel bans that are subject to citizens of 39 countries and the Palestinian Authority.

However, foreign spectators, media and corporate sponsors who wish to attend events will still be affected by the ban unless they qualify for another exemption.

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“Only a small portion of passengers who will attend the World Cup, Olympics, Paralympics and other major sporting events will be able to benefit from the exception,” the message said.

The federal government has issued various immigration and travel bans, as well as other visa restrictions, as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to curb immigration; however, the administration still wants athletes, coaches and fans to attend major sporting events in the United States.

Trump’s announcement last month banning visas for 39 countries and the Palestinian Authority included an exception for athletes and staff competing in certain sporting events such as the World Cup and Olympics, and the decision on other sporting events to be covered would be made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

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Foreign spectators, media and corporate sponsors wishing to attend events will continue to be affected by the ban unless they qualify for another exemption. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

According to the Telegraph, the events covered include all competitions and qualifying events for the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan American Games and Parapan American Games; Events organized, sanctioned or recognized by the US National Board of Directors; All competitions and qualifying events for the Special Olympics; Official events and competitions hosted or supported by FIFA or its confederations.

Official events and competitions hosted or sponsored by the International Military Athletic Council, International Collegiate Athletic Federation, and National Collegiate Athletic Association, as well as U.S. professional sports leagues such as the National Football League, National Basketball Association and National Women’s Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and Minor League, National Hockey League, Women’s Professional Hockey League, NASCAR, Formula 1, Professional Golf Association, Women’s Professional Golf Association, LIV Golf, Major League Rugby, Major League Soccer, World Wrestling Entertainment, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and All Elite Wrestling is also exempt.

Cable said other events and leagues may be added to the list in the future.

Other events and leagues may be added to the list in the future. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

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Under the new visa restrictions, the complete travel ban covers citizens of Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen and holders of passports issued by the Palestinian Authority.

The partial ban applies to citizens of Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Togo, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.