top of page
MISC-removebg-preview.png

Trump's Travel Ban: How It Will Impact Sports?

  • Writer: Izzy Jubb
    Izzy Jubb
  • Jun 9
  • 2 min read
On the left, Gianni Infantino with a shaved head and is wearing a dark suit with a white shirt and a red tie. He is looking at Donald Trump to his right, with a slight smile. In the middle, Donald Trump is wearing a dark suit, a white shirt, and a bright red tie. He is on the football he is signing with a black pen, and has a neutral expression. On the right, His Royal Highness, Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in traditional attire, consisting of a white thobe and a ghutra secured with an agal, is signing a football. He is straight ahead at something or someone out of the frame and has a big smile. Between Donald Trump and the man in traditional attire, there is a blue pedestal with a golden emblem on its front. The background features ornate architecture, suggesting a grand building.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino (left), with US President Donald Trump and His Royal Highness, Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani at a state banquet in Doha, Qatar. @gianni_infantino/Instagram.

US President Donal Trump has said “no” to 16 countries from entering into the US. What does it mean for sport?


The United States is currently preparing to host two of the world's biggest sporting events: the 2026 Fifa World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games.


However, Trump’s new travel ban on 12 countries he deems as “high-risk regions” and “national security threats” could disrupt these plans. 


On his Instagram he said: “We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm, and nothing will stop us from keeping America safe.”



The countries banned from The United States are: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. 


Seven other countries - Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela - are not facing serious travel restrictions. 


Trump said that if these countries start improving they could be removed from the list; likewise new countries that emerge as a threat to America could be added. 


So how exactly will this new exemption impact the sporting industry? 


Firstly, the travel ban states that there's a clear exemption for sports stars that are going to “major” sporting events. 


It says: "Any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the secretary of state" can still travel to the US. 


Therefore, fans wanting to support their country will not be allowed. 


This could create a huge sporting disparity in major competitions with the barred countries massively outnumbered in the stadium by other nations. 


As we all saw at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the lack of fan support can have a considerable psychological impact on athletes who rely on their supporters to boost their confidence and morale. What would happen to them when they’re all gone?


The image shows an Olympic stadium track with athletes running during an event. The track is red and prominently features "TOKYO 2020" branding along its edge. In the background, the stadium seating is visible, appearing largely empty, with rows of seats in various shades of brown, green, and white. There are also some flags visible above the seating area. On the track itself, a group of female athletes in various colored athletic wear are captured mid-race. There are also what appear to be camera operators or officials positioned along the track with equipment. The Olympic rings logo is also visible in multiple locations within the stadium.
The COVID-19 pandemic plagued the Tokyo Olympics with fake cheers and empty stadiums. Photo: abcNews

Aside from this, what will happen to the football players who are part of American clubs? There are nine Venezuelan players in Major League Soccer, including Josef Martínez who plays for San Jose Earthquakes and Erickson Gallardo of Toronto FC. 


If they leave to go visit family, would they be able to return to America?


The image features a male soccer player, Jose Andres Martinez, on a green field during what appears to be a match. He is in profile, looking towards the left side of the frame, and is in motion with his right leg slightly lifted. He is wearing a dark red and gold soccer kit, with the number "17" visible on his shorts. The kit has gold stripes on the shoulders and shorts. He has distinct blonde hair, a beard, and visible tattoos on his arms and leg. He is also wearing black athletic shoes and dark socks with white and gold stripes. A black and pink soccer ball is on the ground near his left foot. In the background, out of focus, are stadium lights and spectators, suggesting an evening game.
In 2018, Martínez made Major League Soccer history by became the most decorated player in one season winning four titles including the coveted Golden Boot. Photo: @jospehmartinezz17/Instagram

Gianni Infantino, the President of FIFA (the international governing body of football)  doesn’t seem fazed by Trump’s latest banishing. Rather he appears very friendly with the US President, posting several positive tweets praising Trump in the week he made his announcement. 


Infantino attended Trump’s inauguration in January and more recently thanked the President on Instagram for his ‘kind words’ during a Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.


There remains lots of uncertainty surrounding this new ruling yet from the looks of things, FIFA, doesn’t dare to get in Trump’s way any time soon.


Comments

bottom of page