Former England and Arsenal forward Ian Wright has voiced concern over America’s new visa restrictions and high ticket prices, warning they could block West African fans from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.
The United States will expand its travel ban from 1 January, placing full-entry restrictions on citizens from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, and holders of Palestinian Authority passports.
Laos and Sierra Leone have also been moved to the full ban list, while 15 other countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, face partial restrictions.
Wright, 62, highlighted the impact on African supporters and criticised the cost of attending the tournament.
“People from Nigeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, simply can’t go; they can’t get visas. This is the World’s game. If this were Qatar, the reaction would be very different,” he said on The Overlap.
The former Arsenal and Crystal Palace striker described the ticket prices as excessive, with initial fees reaching as high as $9,000 for the final.
FIFA responded to public outcry by introducing the Supporter Entry Tier, offering tickets at a fixed $60 for all 104 matches, including the final, for national team fans.
Wright added: “The visa you have to apply for to get in there, the process is ridiculous. It’s turning into a sport for the elites. It’s killing people.”
Amid concerns over access to the World Cup, Wright has also shared his thoughts on African football, tipping Mohamed Salah’s Egypt to lift the 2025 AFCON trophy in Morocco, while Nigeria remains focused on the upcoming continental tournament.
