Summary:
- U.S. expands travel ban exemptions for participants at some major sporting events.
- Exemptions cover Olympics, FIFA events and major U.S. pro and collegiate leagues.
- Applies to travelers from 39 countries and the Palestinian Authority.
THE U.S. PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s administration recently widened the scope of visa exemptions for the sports industry. While initial exceptions focused on the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, the new policy now covers a much broader list of approved major sporting events.
The U.S. State Department said athletes, coaches and support staff for the World Cup, the Olympics and events endorsed or run by a long list of collegiate and professional sporting leagues and associations would not be subject to the full and partial travel bans that apply to citizens of 39 countries and holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents, according to Associated Press.
However, the cable said, “only a small subset of travelers” for some events will qualify for the exception. The exemption does not apply to foreign spectators, journalists or corporate sponsors unless they qualify for a separate exemption.
Trump’s Dec. 16 proclamation established an exception for athletes and staff competing in the World Cup, the Olympics, and other major sporting events. It delegated the authority to determine which additional sporting events would be covered to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Wednesday's cable lists the events that are covered, including "all competitions and qualifying events" for the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan-American Games and Para Pan-American Games; events hosted, sanctioned, or recognized by a U.S. National Governing Body; all competitions and qualifying events for the Special Olympics; and official events and competitions hosted or endorsed by FIFA, soccer's governing body, or its confederations.
The exemption also will cover official events and competitions hosted by the International Military Sports Council, the International University Sports Federation and the National Collegiate Athletic Association as well as those hosted or endorsed by U.S. professional sports leagues such as the National Football League, the National Basketball Association and Women's National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and Little League, National Hockey League, Professional Women's Hockey League, NASCAR, Formula 1, the Professional Golf Association, Ladies Professional Golf Association, LIV Golf, Major League Rugby, Major League Soccer, World Wrestling Entertainment, Ultimate Fighting Championship and All Elite Wrestling.
The cable said other events and leagues could be added to the list.
Of the 39 countries, a full travel ban applies to Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen and people with Palestinian Authority-issued passports.
A partial ban is in place for citizens of Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Togo, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Recently, the administration indefinitely suspended all visa processing for visitors from 75 countries starting Jan. 21. The news was cited in a memo from the U.S. State Department.
