Trump's Travel Ban Has a HUGE Sports Loophole!

Trump Travel Ban Includes Exemption for World Cup and Olympic Athletes

A newly signed travel ban by Donald Trump has sparked widespread discussion, but a specific exemption within the order has caught the attention of the sports world. The ban, which restricts travel from 12 countries and limits entry from seven others, contains a provision that could significantly impact athletes, staff, and their families involved in major sporting events hosted in the United States.

The sweeping order fully restricts nationals from the following countries:

• Afghanistan
• Myanmar
• Chad
• Republic of Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Libya
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Yemen

Additionally, the entry of nationals from these countries will be partly restricted:

• Burundi
• Cuba
• Laos
• Sierra Leone
• Togo
• Turkmenistan
• Venezuela

However, Section 4 of the order provides a crucial exemption: “any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, travelling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the secretary of state” are not subject to the ban.

This exemption raises several key questions:

• Does the “World Cup” include both the 2026 FIFA World Cup involving international teams and the 2025 Club World Cup, which will feature top club teams across the US?
• Will US-based players who represent countries subject to the ban be forced to return early from international windows?

The implications are significant. For example, Venezuela has three players in Major League Soccer who are currently scheduled to participate in World Cup qualifiers. The travel ban is set to take effect on Monday, June 9th, potentially disrupting their participation.

Furthermore, teams that have qualified for the Club World Cup employ several players from countries named in the ban. Some notable examples include:

• Telasco Segovia (Venezuela) - Inter Miami
• Jefferson Savarino (Venezuela) - Botafogo
• Roger Aholou (Togo) - Espérance de Tunis
• David Martínez (Venezuela) - LAFC
• Mehdi Taremi (Iran) - Internazionale
• Matías Lacava (Venezuela) - Ulsan
• Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba (Togo) - Al-Ain
• Josna Loulendo (Republic of Congo) - Al-Ain
• Mohamed Awadalla (Sudan) - Al-Ain
• Salomón Rondón (Venezuela) - Pachuca

As for World Cup qualification, Iran has already secured its place in the 2026 tournament. Venezuela is still in contention, while Equatorial Guinea, Libya, and Sudan remain mathematically alive but face challenges. Haiti is also well-positioned to advance in Concacaf qualifying.

The inclusion of this exemption highlights the complex intersection of politics and sports. While the travel ban aims to address broader security concerns, the provision for athletes acknowledges the importance of international sporting events and the potential impact of restricting participation. It remains to be seen how this exemption will be interpreted and implemented in practice, but its existence underscores the global reach and influence of events like the World Cup and the Olympics.

As the world watches to see how this unfolds, one thing is clear: the lines between sports and global politics continue to blur, requiring careful consideration and nuanced solutions.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jun/05/donald-trump-travel-ban-includes-exemption-for-world-cup-and-olympic-athletes