FIFA is at a loss over how to deal with Haiti and Iran. The issue, sparked by the June 4 executive order blocking citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, has dragged on with no solution in sight. The decree exempts national sports teams from those nations – including Haiti and Iran, both qualified for the FIFA World Cup – but it does not, at least in its original form, include their supporters.

The 2026 World Cup schedule, released on Saturday, December 6, placed Les Grenadiers and Team Melli entirely on US soil. Both nations, whose citizens are barred from entering the country, will play all of their group-stage games in the United States. Haiti opens its first World Cup in 52 years at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough against Scotland, then heads to Philadelphia to face Brazil, and closes the first round against Morocco in Atlanta. Iran debuts against New Zealand in Los Angeles, stays in the city to meet Belgium, and finishes Group G in Seattle, where Egypt awaits.

Even so, it remains unclear whether either team will be able to rely on their supporters in the stands. The exceptions in the executive order do not cover fans traveling solely to attend World Cup games. The policy has prompted heavy criticism around an event that is meant to celebrate universality; Carlos de las Heras, Amnesty International Spain’s lead on sports and human rights, wrote:

“The US administration’s abusive migration policies, which include travel bans, increased detentions and restrictions on visa access, pose a threat to the inclusive nature of the World Cup (...) The tournament cannot be a celebration of football when thousands of fans are being denied entry.”

FIFA has yet to comment. There is also no public information about the logistics surrounding the Haitian and Iranian squads at their World Cup bases, nor whether their entry to the United States is assured. AS asked FIFA whether the Trump administration and the federation will create a mechanism that allows fans from both nations to follow their teams, but there has been no response. The paradox lingers as time keeps ticking.

Haiti’s matches in the 2026 World Cup

• vs. Scotland | Gillette Stadium; Foxborough, Massachusetts | June 13, 2026 | 9:00 pm ET
• vs. Brazil | Lincoln Financial Field; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | June 19, 2026 | 9:00 pm ET
• vs. Morocco | Mercedes Benz Stadium; Atlanta, Georgia | June 24, 2026 | 6:00 pm ET

Iran’s matches in the 2026 World Cup

• vs. New Zealand | SoFi Stadium; Los Angeles, California | June 15, 2026 | 9:00 pm ET
• vs. Belgium | SoFi Stadium; Los Angeles, California | June 21, 2026 | 3:00 pm ET
• vs. Egypt | LumenField; Seattle, Washington | June 26, 2026 | 11:00 pm ET

What Trump’s travel ban 2.0 says

People from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen have been barred from entering the United States since June 4, 2025. One exception listed in Section IV of the decree covers “coaches, individuals fulfilling a necessary support role (team staff, for example) and immediate relatives.”

There is still no provision for the people who bring the color to the stadiums.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.