The Trump administration announced a series of competitions it considers “major sporting events”—aside from the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games—allowing athletes to enter the United States, thus circumventing a broad visa ban affecting nearly 40 countries, including Haiti and Iran.
In a cable sent Wednesday to all US embassies and consulates, the State Department indicated that athletes, coaches, and support staff for the World Cup, the Olympic Games, and events supported and organized by a long list of collegiate and professional sports leagues and associations will not be subject to the full and partial travel bans that apply to citizens of 39 countries and the Palestinian Authority.
However, the cable made it clear that foreign fans, media representatives, and corporate sponsors planning to attend these events will still be subject to the restrictions unless they qualify for another type of exemption.
“Only a small subset of travelers for the World Cup, the Olympics, the Paralympics, and other major sporting events will be eligible for the exception,” it emphasized.
The White House has issued a series of immigration and travel bans, as well as other visa restrictions, as part of the tightening of policies imposed by Donald Trump.
Trump’s December 16 proclamation prohibiting the issuance of visas to 39 countries and the Palestinian Authority established an exception for athletes and personnel participating in the World Cup, the Olympics, and other major sporting events. However, it delegated to Secretary of State Marco Rubio the decision on which other events would be exempt.
The State Department’s report released Wednesday lists events exempt from visa restrictions, including “all competitions and qualifying events” for the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American, and Parapan American Games.
Also included are events organized, sanctioned, or recognized by a U.S. national sports federation; all competitions and qualifying events for the Special Olympics; and official events and competitions organized or endorsed by FIFA or its confederations.
The list features professional sports such as the NBA, WNBA, MLB and Little League World Series (LLWS), NHL, NASCAR, Formula One, PGA, LPGA, LIV Golf, Major League Rugby, MLS, WWE, UFC, and All Elite Wrestling.
