Photo by Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0 (Ronnie Macdonald)
It appears that Brazilian soccer fans may be forced to stay home for the 2026 World Cup.
US President Donald Trump is considering a ban on visas from Brazil ahead of the international tournament, according to a report from CNN. The move comes as tensions rise between the two countries, and restrictions are already being put in place as a result.
The ban would not affect the players or coaches, meaning the team would still be allowed to participate.
It appears that Brazilian soccer fans may be forced to stay home for the 2026 World Cup.
US President Donald Trump is considering a ban on visas from Brazil ahead of the international tournament, according to a report from CNN. The move comes as tensions rise between the two countries, and restrictions are already being put in place as a result.
The ban would not affect the players or coaches, meaning the team would still be allowed to participate.
Brazil is not the first country to feel the wrath of the White House. In June, the President announced a ban on all visas from Iran. He cited security risks over the conflict with Israel for the ban, though the national team will still be allowed to compete. The ban could be lifted ahead of the tournament, but would likely require significant concessions from the Iranian government.
Iran’s ban shows that the reports about Brazil should be taken seriously. While the country sends far more fans to the tournament than Iran, time will tell if the President risks that lost revenue to send a message.
To the surprise of no one, Brazil is once again viewed as one of the favorites to win the World Cup.
Most soccer betting sites have Spain, France, Brazil, and England with the best odds. The team is currently fifth in FIFA’s World rankings and will be seeking its sixth title in North America next summer.
With Brazil fans believing the team has a chance to win its first World Cup since 2002, many were expected to travel to North America for the tournament.
Even if President Trump announces he won’t enact the ban, Brazilian fans still may not be interested in purchasing tickets.
One reason for their hesitation would be the American leaders’ reputation. We have seen him flip-flop on visa bans, tariffs, and other international decisions since taking office earlier this year. That will make it hard for potential visitors to trust the announcement, especially with ticket prices expected to spike.
The good news is that Mexico and Canada will not be enacting any bans on Brazil. That will give fans access to some of the games, but only through the second round of the knockout stage. After that, all matches will be played in the US.
Michael is a writer from Denver who covers the sports betting industry for Casino.com. He has been covering the industry for over four years, focusing on providing accurate and easy-to-understand information for readers. When he’s not covering the industry, he’s betting on sports or exploring everything that Colorado has to offer.
FIFA has announced that it will begin accepting 2026 World Cup ticket applications on September 10. Winners will be randomly drawn, with tickets being awarded in phases. The governing body has not confirmed if its new dynamic pricing model will be used.
