DAKAR, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, officials and fans in Senegal are raising concerns over a scenario where their national team, "Lions of Teranga," would be deprived of a significant portion of its traveling supporters, as entry conditions to the United States tighten.
PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY AMID CONSTRAINTS
In January, Senegalese Minister of Youth and Sports Khady Diene Gaye told Xinhua that the country's preparations began early, and she has engaged in discussions with diplomatic representatives in Canada and the United States to examine the possibilities of transporting supporters from Senegal. "But the conditions are difficult and draconian," she noted.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Dec. 16 to restrict entry for nationals of multiple countries, including Senegal, a move that threatened to exclude Senegalese supporters from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Gaye emphasized that in the current context, the arrangements will not be able to automatically replicate the scale seen during the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. "In Morocco, we mobilized at least 700 supporters per match," she recalled.
Moreover, cost is already a major barrier. Long-haul airfare, accommodation, and match tickets combined can amount to several months' income for many African households.
ANGER, ANXIETY, AND PROFESSIONALIZATION OF SUPPORTER COMMITTEES
In Dakar, early World Cup fever is evident: Lions jerseys line market stalls, teenagers train on neighborhood pitches, and talk about the tournament is everywhere. Yet the prospect of traveling to witness it in person is becoming increasingly uncertain.
Among supporters, disappointment is mixed with a form of bewilderment.
Djibril Gueye, president of a local supporter group "Allez Casa," said he does not understand how a host country could limit the ability of fans to accompany their team.
"A World Cup is a celebration," he insisted, arguing that the presence of supporters is an integral part of the spectacle and provides moral support to the players.
Abou Soumare, another football enthusiast, said he was "stunned" by the restrictions. He called on FIFA to strengthen dialogue with the relevant authorities in the spirit of fraternity associated with the tournament.
Oumar Camara, a Senegalese sports fan, noted that African supporters "are now well-organized with supporter committees."
"They have grown accustomed to traveling for major tournaments," he said, fearing that repeated obstacles might discourage this mobilization dynamic.
Over the years, supporter committees have become structured with internal rules, collection mechanisms, and stricter supervision, precisely to make travel more credible and better managed.
In this context, visa restrictions are not just a personal obstacle; they also risk undermining a collective framework built over time.
ISSUES BEYOND SENEGAL
Like Senegal's "Lions of Teranga", the "Elephants" of Cote d'Ivoire could also face sparsely filled stands. The country is among the World Cup participants subject to U.S. entry restrictions.
Ange Thio, an Ivorian football coach, called Washington's decision "absurd." "One must not confuse sports with politics. Sports remain sports, football remains football, and politics remains politics," he stressed. "If the United States is responsible for organizing a World Cup, they must allow everyone to accompany (their teams)."
For Senegal and its neighbors, U.S. travel restrictions are causing uncertainty for fans planning to support their teams on-site. Some are already looking toward Canada or Mexico, while others hope for rapid clarifications, fearing that the "twelfth man" will be less present in the stands than usual.
Football is a passion shared across the African continent. As Ivorian coach Thio pointed out, "When a national team goes to play in an Africa Cup of Nations or a World Cup, an entire country moves with them." ■