Hundreds of Ivory Coast supporters will be unable to travel to the United States for the 2026 World Cup after reportedly failing to secure visas, dealing a major blow to fans hoping to support the Elephants at the tournament.
According to French sports newspaper L’Équipe, around 500 supporters had planned to make the journey to the United States to follow Ivory Coast during the competition.
However, visa difficulties have prevented many of them from obtaining the documents required to travel, leaving the African champions facing the prospect of competing without a significant contingent of fans from home.
The development adds to growing concerns over access to the World Cup for supporters from several participating nations. In recent days, reports have emerged of fans, journalists and officials from a number of countries encountering challenges in securing entry to the United States.
For Ivory Coast, the setback is particularly disappointing given the excitement generated by the team’s return to the global stage following its dramatic Africa Cup of Nations triumph on home soil in 2024.
Supporters had hoped to recreate the vibrant atmosphere that accompanied the Elephants during their continental success, but many will now be forced to follow events from afar.
The absence of travelling fans could also affect the tournament atmosphere, with African supporters traditionally among the most visible and vocal at major international competitions.
While members of the Ivorian diaspora living in North America are expected to attend matches, the reported failure of hundreds of supporters to secure visas means a significant number of fans based in Ivory Coast will miss the opportunity to watch their team in person.
The issue comes as the United States hosts the majority of matches at the first-ever 48-team World Cup, a tournament expected to attract millions of visitors from around the world.
