Ivory Coast will play its 2026 World Cup matches without fans from the country, due to the inability to obtain visas, the president of the national supporters' committee, which usually organizes travel, told AFP on Thursday.

Donald Trump's very strict immigration policy poses problems of entry to the United States for some countries and even goes so far as to affect those involved in the game, with Somali referee Omar Artan being turned away on Saturday, despite having a valid visa.

"The supporters have given up on the trip because the American state does not want to see supporters from certain countries, including Ivory Coast, on its soil. The United States has been clear with us in saying that they do not want to see our supporters," fumes Julien Kouadio Adonis, president of the National Committee of Elephants Supporters (CNSE).

"This situation hurts us greatly because it prevents us from fulfilling our sovereign duty, which is to support our team. We could have showcased our culture and our expertise in supporting fans in the stands," adds the head of this organization under the supervision of the Ministry of Sports.

Only a handful of CNSE officials were allowed to travel to the United States. For its three participations in the World Cup (2006, 2010, 2014) or for the Africa Cup of Nations, the organization usually sent several dozen supporters.

In March, Mr. Kouadio told AFP he hoped to send 500 fans across the Atlantic.

The role of the small group of CNSE officials authorized to travel will be "to supervise the Ivorian supporters based in the United States," explains Mr. Kouadio, who adds that even for this delegation, "it was not easy at all to obtain visas. It was necessary to discuss and negotiate to be heard."

"Your ticket is not a visa," warned US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this year.

These restrictions, coupled with the exorbitant cost of match tickets, fuel criticism of a World Cup disconnected from the popular base of football fans.

Ivory Coast is scheduled to play two of its three group matches in the United States, on June 15 and 25 in Philadelphia against Ecuador and Curaçao. Its second match, on June 20, will be played in Toronto, Canada, against Germany.

AFP