Senegal will open their World Cup campaign in the United States without an official home-based supporters’ delegation after U.S. visa refusals blocked fans from travelling, AFP reported.
Senegalese authorities told AFP they would not send a formal fan group to support the Teranga Lions after visa applications were rejected by U.S. consular services.
The decision means Senegal’s local supporters will not be present in the stands for the team’s Group I campaign, which begins against France on June 16 before matches against Norway and Iraq.
The visa problem has also affected Ivory Coast supporters, according to the same AFP report, adding to wider concerns over access to the 2026 World Cup for fans from some participating countries.
The issue comes amid broader scrutiny of host-country entry decisions. Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States despite holding a valid visa, while Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey was ruled out of his team’s opener after Canada refused his visa application.
FIFA has said immigration decisions remain the responsibility of host governments.
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