The new regulation of the Trump administration includes a ban on entry for citizens of 12 countries, which were specified as “high -risk areas”. Additional restrictions were introduced to seven other countries, although there are some exceptions. Among them are athletes participating in international competitions, such as the World Football Championships or the Olympic Games.
However, the details remain unclear. Do exceptions also include training camps, friendly matches or less prestigious tournaments? Competition organizers such as Concacaf Gold Cup or FIFA Club World Championships may encounter problems if the regulations are not specified.
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The organizers of the Games calm down, but doubts remain
The Organizational Committee of the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles (LA28) has already started consulting with the federal authorities. Casey Wasserman, head of the committee, assured that the US administration understands the unique character of such large events and included them in its regulations. The International Olympic Committee also expressed the hope that athletes would not encounter visa problems.
However, the lack of specific guidelines for supporters raises concerns. Fans from countries covered by the ban may not be able to participate in live eventswhich will affect both the atmosphere of the competition and potential revenues from tickets. In previous years, FIFA emphasized that every world championship host must ensure free entry for all national teams and their fans. For now, it is not certain whether the US will meet these requirements.
Problems for American leagues and athletes
The ban can also affect athletes appearing in American leagues such as NBA, MLB, MLS and Major League Cricket. Players from countries covered by restrictions may have difficulties back to the USA after international competitions or family visits. Similar problems have already affected the players in the past, including representatives of Tibet, who were refused to enter the tournament in Texas.
World Cup. Fans in an adverse situation
However, the greatest doubts apply to sports fans. Supporters from countries covered by the ban have not been included in the exceptions, which means that their participation in sports events in the US may not be possible. For representations such as Iran or Haiti, which still have a chance to qualify for the World Cup, this means a lack of support for their supporters in the stands.
The organizers, however, hope that the sale of tickets will remain high thanks to the interest of fans from other regions of the world and local fans. In the past, similar problems did not discourage viewers from participating in key matches.
