The administration of US President Donald Trump has issued a detailed list of major international sporting competitions that will be exempt from sweeping visa restrictions affecting nearly 40 countries. The move ensures athletes, coaches, and essential staff from these nations can still enter the United States to compete.
Which Events Are Covered by the Exemption?
In a diplomatic cable sent to all American embassies and consulates on Wednesday, 15 January 2026, the State Department clarified the scope of the exemption. While the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles were already known exceptions, the new guidance significantly expands the list.
The cable states that the exemption applies to all competitions and qualifying events for:
- The Olympic, Paralympic, Pan-American, and Para Pan-American Games.
- Events hosted, sanctioned, or recognised by a U.S. National Governing Body.
- All Special Olympics competitions.
- Official events hosted by FIFA and its continental confederations.
Professional and Collegiate Leagues Also Included
The directive goes further, encompassing a vast array of professional and collegiate sports. Exemptions will cover official events and competitions hosted or endorsed by a long list of organisations, including:
Professional Leagues: The NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, Professional Women’s Hockey League, NASCAR, Formula 1, PGA, LPGA, LIV Golf, Major League Rugby, Major League Soccer, WWE, UFC, and All Elite Wrestling.
Other Governing Bodies: The International Military Sports Council, the International University Sports Federation, the NCAA, and Little League.
The cable noted that other events and leagues could be added to the list at a later date.
Strict Limits: Athletes In, Spectators Out
Critically, the exemption is narrowly tailored. It applies only to accredited athletes, coaches, and essential support staff. The State Department explicitly stated that foreign spectators, media, and corporate sponsors planning to attend these same events from the affected countries would remain subject to the bans unless they qualified for a separate exemption.
"Only a small subset of travelers for the World Cup, Olympics and Paralympics, and other major sporting events will qualify for the exception," the cable clarified.
Background of the Broader Visa Bans
This sporting carve-out exists within a much broader framework of immigration restrictions. President Trump's proclamation on 16 December 2025 banned visa issuance to citizens of 39 countries and the Palestinian Authority. The proclamation initially included an exception for major sporting events but left it to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to define which events would qualify.
The countries fall under two tiers:
Full Travel Ban: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and holders of Palestinian Authority passports.
Partial Ban: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Togo, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The administration's dual approach reflects an ongoing effort to tighten general entry standards while attempting to safeguard the United States' ability to host prestigious global sporting spectacles.
