Côte d’Ivoire home-based football fans have reportedly been denied visas to travel to the United States for the upcoming World Cup, according to the president of the country’s national supporters’ committee.
Julien Kouadio Adonis, president of the National Committee of Elephants Supporters (CNSE), said on Thursday that the decision has forced the cancellation of planned travel arrangements for fans intending to follow the national team abroad.
The CNSE, which operates under Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Sport, is responsible for organising travel for supporters who follow the national team during international competitions.
“The supporters have cancelled the trip because the US government does not want to see supporters from certain countries, including the Côte d’Ivoire, on its soil,” Kouadio said in an interview with AFP.
“The United States has been clear with us, saying they do not want to see our supporters. This situation hurts us deeply because it prevents us from fulfilling our sacred duty, which is to support our team.”
The visa issue comes amid wider concerns over entry restrictions affecting several individuals connected to the tournament, including reports of denied entry for some team staff and officials from participating countries.
Côte d’Ivoire is scheduled to play two of its three group-stage matches in Philadelphia against Ecuador on June 15 and Curaçao on June 25, with a third fixture against Germany set to be played in Toronto.
Kouadio had earlier estimated that around 500 supporters would travel from Côte d’Ivoire to North America for the tournament. However, those plans have now been disrupted due to visa complications.
He added that a small number of CNSE officials had been granted permission to travel and would assist Ivorian supporters already based in the United States.
The supporters’ committee estimates that more than 1,000 Ivorian fans may still attend matches despite the travel restrictions, though the final number remains uncertain.
The situation adds to ongoing debates over travel policies and accessibility for international fans attending major sporting events hosted across multiple countries.
