Six members of the Senegalese Football Federation have reportedly been denied entry visas by the United States Embassy in Dakar, preventing them from traveling for organizational duties connected to the 2026 World Cup.
According to reports by Africa Top Sports, the refusals come amid stricter immigration measures introduced by the United States at the beginning of 2026.
The updated procedures reportedly require more extensive scrutiny of official delegations, including additional checks on travel purpose, documentation, and administrative guarantees.
Journalist Micky Jnr reported that those affected include senior football officials such as Amadou Kan, fourth vice-president of the federation, Moussa Mbaye, president of Stade de Mbour and member of the federation’s finance committee, and Modou Fall, president of AS Pikine.
Although the delegation reportedly held official status, the refusals are believed to be linked either to procedural shortcomings in the applications or concerns raised during security assessments.
The embassy has not publicly detailed the reasons behind the decisions, though sources cited by local media suggested incomplete documentation or failure to meet updated entry requirements may have contributed.
The development comes at a sensitive stage in preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
FIFA has repeatedly stressed the importance of ensuring smooth travel arrangements for teams, officials and support staff ahead of the tournament. The governing body has emphasised that the successful delivery of the competition depends heavily on efficient movement between host cities and countries.
The visa refusals have therefore raised broader questions about how football federations, particularly from Africa, may adapt to the tighter US immigration environment in the build-up to the tournament.
As preparations intensify, the incident highlights the administrative and logistical challenges that could emerge for federations seeking to coordinate operations for football’s biggest global event.
