The Trump administration has carved out a narrow but significant exemption in its tightening foreign travel regime, allowing athletes and team officials to enter the United States for major international sporting events even as a sweeping visa ban remains in force for nearly 40 countries.
According to a State Department cable sent to all US embassies and consulates last week and cited by the Associated Press, athletes, coaches, referees and essential support staff connected to events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and other designated “major sporting events” will not be subject to the full or partial travel restrictions currently applied to citizens of 39 countries and the Palestinian Authority.
The move reflects Washington’s attempt to balance its hardline immigration agenda with the practical and diplomatic need to ensure the smooth conduct of high-profile global sports events hosted on American soil. Officials have privately acknowledged that barring competitors could lead to logistical chaos, international backlash and reputational damage to the United States as a host nation.
However, the exemption is tightly limited. Foreign fans, spectators, members of the media and corporate sponsors planning to attend these events will remain barred from entry unless they qualify under a separate and specific exemption. “Only a small subset of travellers for the World Cup, Olympics and Paralympics, and other major sporting events will qualify for the exception,” the State Department cable stated, underscoring the administration’s intent to keep the loophole narrow.
The scope of the exemption is nonetheless broad within the sporting ecosystem. It covers all competitions and qualifying events related to the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan-American Games and Para Pan-American Games. It also applies to events hosted, sanctioned or recognised by US National Governing Bodies, all competitions and qualifying events for the Special Olympics, and official events hosted or endorsed by FIFA or its confederations.
In addition, the exemption extends to competitions organised or endorsed by the International Military Sports Council, the International University Sports Federation and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Major professional leagues in the United States are also included, ranging from the NFL, NBA and WNBA to Major League Baseball, the NHL, NASCAR, Formula 1, PGA and LPGA Tours, Major League Soccer, UFC, WWE and other prominent sports organisations.
The State Department noted that additional events and leagues could be added in the future, leaving room for flexibility as the global sports calendar evolves. For now, the policy draws a clear line: athletes and officials are welcome to compete, but the stands, press boxes and corporate suites will remain off-limits to many foreign nationals, highlighting the administration’s continued emphasis on strict border controls even amid global sporting celebrations.
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