World Cup 2026: African fans struggle for US visas two days to tournament

As excitement builds ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, concerns are growing over whether thousands of African supporters will be able to attend football’s biggest event in person.

While ten African nations have earned their place on the pitch, many of their fans may struggle to secure entry to the United States, which will host the majority of the tournament’s matches.

African Nations Earn Historic World Cup Representation

Africa will be represented by ten countries at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking one of the continent’s strongest ever presences at the tournament. Nations including Senegal, Ghana, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Tunisia, South Africa, Cape Verde and DR Congo have all secured qualification and will be hoping to make a significant impact on the global stage.

However, for many supporters hoping to travel and cheer on their teams, the challenge may begin long before kick-off.

High Visa Refusal Rates Raise Concerns

Data from the U.S. Department of State for the 2025 fiscal year highlights significant visa refusal rates for several African nations competing at the World Cup.

Senegal recorded the highest refusal rate among the qualified African teams at 74 percent. Ghana followed with a refusal rate of 64 per cent, while DR Congo stood at 63 per cent. Cape Verde and Algeria registered refusal rates of 54 per cent and 51 per cent, respectively.

Egypt’s refusal rate was listed at 48 per cent, while Côte d’Ivoire stood at 37 per cent. Morocco and Tunisia recorded lower figures at 27 per cent and 26 per cent, while South Africa had the lowest refusal rate among the ten nations at 12 per cent.

Majority of Matches to Be Played in the United States

The issue has attracted attention because the United States will host 78 of the tournament’s 104 matches, including many of the most anticipated fixtures. Although Canada and Mexico are co-hosts, the U.S. remains the primary venue for the expanded competition.

This reality means that supporters from African nations hoping to attend matches will largely need access to U.S. visas, regardless of where their teams are based during the tournament.

Concerns Over Fan Representation

The figures have sparked debate on social media, with some observers arguing that high visa refusal rates could affect the atmosphere inside stadiums and reduce the presence of African supporters during the tournament.

Many fans fear that while African teams will be strongly represented on the field, their supporters could struggle to be present in similar numbers in the stands due to visa challenges and travel restrictions.

Balancing Security and Accessibility

The United States continues to maintain that visa decisions are made according to immigration laws and security requirements. However, with the World Cup often promoted as a global celebration of football, questions remain about how easily supporters from all participating nations will be able to attend.

As the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues, the debate highlights a growing concern for African football followers: qualifying for the tournament may have been the easy part, but gaining access to the stadiums could prove to be a much bigger challenge.