2026 World Cup: Why Donald Trump is Considering Banning Brazil
- Donald Trump’s revived travel bans could block fans from key nations, including ex-world champions, from attending the 2026 World Cup in the U.S
- Brazil faces potential visa restrictions and heavy tariffs on exports, sparking tension with President Lula’s administration
- Despite political controversy, qualified teams, including Brazil, Japan, and Argentina, prepare for the tournament amid uncertainty
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Donald Trump has reportedly threatened to block a major footballing nation from participating fully in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is set to kick off in just 315 days.
With several key decisions still pending, the former U.S. president’s travel policies are raising alarm bells within the international football community.
Source: Getty Images
So far, 13 nations have already qualified for the tournament, including co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States, alongside global powerhouses like Brazil, Argentina, Japan, and Australia.
But with 35 spots still up for grabs, political tensions are casting a shadow over the competition’s final preparations.
Trump has already banned 19 countries
While Donald Trump made headlines for his appearance at Chelsea’s Club World Cup celebrations, even standing next to captain Reece James as he hoisted the trophy after a dominant 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain, behind the scenes, his policies are raising serious concerns.
The match, seen as an unofficial dress rehearsal for next summer’s showpiece, stood in stark contrast to the brewing controversy.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, Trump has reinstated a strict travel ban affecting 19 countries.
Twelve nations, including Iran, Somalia, Libya, and Yemen, are under a full travel ban, while seven others, such as Venezuela, Cuba, and Laos, face partial restrictions.
These bans have already prompted fears of limited fan access or even disrupted team logistics.
Donald Trump places travel restrictions on Brazil
In a more recent development, CNN reported that Trump is considering banning visas from Brazil, the five-time World Cup champions.
While athletes and coaching staff would still be allowed entry, Brazilian fans could be barred from travelling to support their team, drastically impacting the atmosphere for one of the sport’s most iconic nations.
Dual citizens are exempt from the restriction, but the wider Brazilian fanbase could face a difficult road to the U.S.
Why Trump has hit Brazil with harsh sanctions
The U.S. President has imposed an additional 40% tariff on Brazilian imports, raising the total rate to a staggering 50%.
According to a statement from the White House, the sanctions are a response to Brazil's alleged political persecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
"The Order finds that the Government of Brazil’s politically motivated persecution, intimidation, harassment, censorship, and prosecution of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and thousands of his supporters are serious human rights abuses that have undermined the rule of law in Brazil," read the statement.
Bolsonaro, a known ally of Trump, is currently facing prosecution over alleged attempts to overturn Brazil’s 2022 election results.
Source: AFP
Meanwhile, diplomatic relations between Trump and Brazil’s current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, are reportedly strained.
Lula, responding to the tensions in an interview with The New York Times, reaffirmed Brazil's independence on the global stage.
“There’s no reason to be afraid,” Lula stated. “We have economic interests, political interests, technological interests. But Brazil will not negotiate as if it were a small country facing a larger one. We will negotiate as a sovereign nation.”
Will this impact Brazil’s 2026 World Cup campaign?
CNN Brasil reported that Brazilian senators visiting Washington encountered unusually tight visa restrictions, suggesting Trump’s proposed policies are already being quietly enacted.
These limitations could potentially remain in place during the 2026 World Cup, posing a serious hurdle for Brazilian fans planning to attend and support their national team in the U.S.
This would mean Brazil might play without much of their traveling support, which would be a significant blow to the tournament atmosphere.
Has Brazil qualified for the 2026 World Cup?
Brazil comfortably secured qualification, finishing third in the South American qualifiers with 25 points, 10 behind leaders Argentina.
The top six teams from CONMEBOL usually qualify automatically, while the seventh-place team enters an intercontinental playoff.
Brazil’s rich football legacy, combined with their recent managerial boost, makes them one of the favorites heading into the tournament.
Source: YEN.com.gh
