Why are Ivory Coast fans denied US visas for the World Cup?

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Ivory Coast home-based fans were denied US visas because the United States said it does not want supporters from certain countries, including Ivory Coast, on its soil.

Ivory Coast supporters’ committee president Julien Kouadio Adonis said the US government told them it does not want to see supporters from certain countries, naming Ivory Coast among those affected. He said this led to cancelled trips and prevented the group from fulfilling its role of supporting the national team.
What Ivory Coast’s supporters committee says the US told them
Julien Kouadio Adonis, president of the National Committee of Elephants Supporters (CNSE), said US authorities made the position clear to the group. He described the reason as the United States not wanting to see supporters from certain countries, including Ivory Coast, in the country.

CNSE operates under the country’s Ministry of Sport and organises trips for the small number of travelling fans who follow the team abroad. In this case, Adonis said the supporters cancelled the trip after the US stance was communicated.
The US government’s stated position on certain countries
The US government has said it does not want to see supporters from certain countries, including Ivory Coast, on its soil. The statement cited in the reporting frames the decision as part of US visa policy affecting supporters for the World Cup.

The coverage does not provide the specific criteria or legal grounds used by the United States beyond that stated position. It also does not detail why Ivory Coast is included in the group of affected countries.
How this affects Ivory Coast’s World Cup support plans
Because visas were denied, Ivory Coast supporters were unable to travel to the United States to watch the team. Adonis said the situation “hurts us deeply” because it stops them from fulfilling their duty to support the team.

Ivory Coast are scheduled to play two of their three group matches in Philadelphia, against Ecuador on June 15 and Curacao on June 25, with the schedule also including a trip to Toronto for a match against Germany. Visa denials therefore directly disrupt the group’s ability to attend those matches in the United States.
Other World Cup entry denials reported around the same period
The same reporting period also described other World Cup-related entry problems, including a Somali referee turned away on Sunday and some support staff for the Iranian team denied entry. These cases were presented alongside the visa issues affecting Ivory Coast supporters as part of the broader run-up to the tournament.

However, the reporting does not link these separate cases to a single shared reason beyond the broader US stance on supporters from certain countries.

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Why are Ivory Coast fans denied US visas for the World Cup?

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