Kalidou Koulibaly criticizes travel bans affecting Senegal fans during 2026 World Cup

Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly has expressed disappointment over travel bans that prevent his country's fans from supporting the national team during the World Cup in the US. President Donald Trump has introduced travel restrictions, including: for citizens of Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Iran and Haiti. These prohibitions include, among others: tourist visas, which are necessary to participate in events such as the World Cup. "The federation made sure that our loved ones could be with us," said former Chelsea defender Koulibaly after the 3-1 loss to France. "But some fans couldn't come to America. Every team should have its own fans, so I don't understand why people from Africa can't have theirs."  Koulibaly emphasized that his team appreciates the support of the Senegalese diaspora in the US, especially in Harlem, where there is a strong community with ties to the country. The match between Senegal and France took place at MetLife Stadium, near New York. Statistics presented by the White House indicate a high percentage of people from Senegal who did not leave the US after their visas expired, which was supposed to be one of the arguments for introducing bans. Although the bans do not cover athletes and their families, they constitute a serious obstacle for ordinary fans. --- ## Related Articles 1. [Jan Paul van Hecke's Imminent Move to Tottenham](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/jan-paul-van-heckes-imminent-move-to-tottenham) 2. [Colombia batte l'Uzbekistan 3-1, 4 cose da sapere sulla partita](https://azzurrigoal.com/it/news/colombia-batte-luzbekistan-3-1-4-cose-da-sapere-sulla-partita)