In a spirited exchange that underscored both the excitement and anxieties surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino faced a barrage of questions from African media on August 30, 2025, during a news conference in Nairobi, Kenya. The heart of the matter? Whether African soccer fans will truly feel safe and welcome when the globe’s biggest sporting event lands in the United States next summer.
The 2026 World Cup, billed as the most expansive in history, will span 11 cities in the US, three in Mexico, and two in Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026. For the first time, the tournament will feature a whopping 48 teams, with at least nine African nations expected to qualify—Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa among the frontrunners. A tenth African team could still clinch a spot through inter-continental playoffs, to be decided after the high-profile tournament draw at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center on December 5, 2025.
But as the countdown to kickoff accelerates, so too do concerns. “African football fans are a little bit jittery about what is happening in the US in regards to the expansion of people who are in the U.S.,” a South African reporter remarked, voicing the apprehensions of many on the continent. The reporter, whose pointed questions were broadcast on the Confederation of African Football’s YouTube channel, pressed Infantino and FIFA vice president Patrice Motsepe to ensure African visitors “do not feel outcast, do not feel like they are being made second-class citizens in a world where equality should prevail.”
Infantino, who has maintained close ties with US President Donald Trump—including a recent Oval Office announcement of the tournament draw—responded with characteristic optimism. “Everyone will be welcome in North America next year for the World Cup,” Infantino declared. “I think it’s important to clarify this, there is a lot of misconception out there.” He went on to remind the assembled journalists, “The world needs occasions of unity.”
Still, the practical hurdles loom large. Tickets for the 104 scheduled World Cup games are set to go on sale September 10, 2025, but longstanding concerns about US visa access remain front and center. The United States continues to enforce travel bans and maintain watch lists that affect dozens of countries, sparking worries that African fans could face difficulties entering the country. While the Trump administration has promised exemptions for teams and officials participating in the World Cup—and for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics—the outlook for regular fans is less clear.
Motsepe, a prominent South African businessman who has led the Confederation of African Football since 2021, sought to reassure fans. “We are confident that we will fulfill whatever requirements they may have and there will be sufficient access to African fans in the World Cup next year,” he said. Behind the scenes, Motsepe indicated, discreet negotiations with US authorities have led to commitments aimed at smoothing the path for African supporters.
Infantino, for his part, pointed to recent precedent. “Fans came from 164 countries to the month-long Club World Cup hosted in 11 US cities in June and July without of course any problems with visas,” he noted. That event, though on a smaller scale than the World Cup, is being cited as evidence that the US can accommodate a diverse influx—though skeptics wonder if the stakes and scrutiny will be much higher next summer.
Adding a political wrinkle to the sporting spectacle, Infantino referenced his recent meeting with President Trump. According to Infantino, Trump told him that FIFA would not have been able to organize World Cup games in Los Angeles next year had the president not sent troops into the city earlier this month. Eight matches—including the US national team’s opener on June 12, 2026—are scheduled for SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, making it a focal point of both athletic and political attention.
The interplay between global sport and geopolitics is nothing new, but the current climate has given it fresh urgency. Trump’s administration has made headlines with controversial statements and policies regarding Africa, and while officials have promised that the World Cup will be a moment of unity, some African fans remain unconvinced. “The onus is on you to make sure that Africa and all the other people of the world do not feel outcast,” the South African reporter insisted, a sentiment echoed by many across the continent.
As anticipation builds, the logistics of fan participation are coming into sharper focus. With ticket sales about to open, questions about visa processing times, potential travel restrictions, and the experience of African fans on US soil are being hotly debated. Infantino’s call for positivity—“Be positive, you will see there will be a great, great celebration of the greatest FIFA World Cup ever”—is certainly rousing, but whether it will be enough to dispel lingering doubts is an open question.
Beyond the immediate concerns of visas and travel, the 2026 World Cup represents a watershed moment for African football. The expanded format all but guarantees the continent its largest-ever representation on the world stage. Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa are in pole position to qualify in October, with several other African nations vying for a coveted spot. For fans from Lagos to Cairo, Casablanca to Johannesburg, the prospect of cheering on their teams in North America is electrifying—provided they can get there.
Infantino and Motsepe’s reassurances are being watched closely not just in Africa, but by soccer lovers worldwide. The World Cup has long been a symbol of unity, a rare event where national pride and global camaraderie collide. Yet the 2026 edition, with its vast geography and fraught political backdrop, will test whether that spirit can prevail amid real-world complications.
As the world’s attention turns toward the upcoming ticket launch and the December draw in Washington D.C., African fans are weighing their options and watching for further updates. The hope is that, come next June, stadiums across the US will be filled with the vibrant energy and color that African supporters are known for—transforming any jitters into joyous celebration.
For now, the message from FIFA’s top brass is clear: the invitation is open, and efforts are underway to ensure that every fan, regardless of origin, can join the party. Whether reality lives up to that promise will become apparent as the tournament approaches and the first whistles blow across North America.
