Vincent Carchietta-Imagn photos
The Senegal the national team began its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on Tuesday with a 3-1 loss to France at MetLife Stadium, and did so in front of a largely partisan French crowd.
This is because many Senegalese fans were unable to enter the country after one travel ban imposed on the country by President Donald Trump.
Senegal, as well as Ivory Coast, Iran and Haiti, were part of a proclamation in December signed by Trump that restricted access to the country.
After the match, Senegal’s captain Kalidou Koulibaly didn’t hold back when asked his thoughts on the ban.
Kalidou Koulibaly can’t understand Senegal’s World Cup travel ban
“The association did the work for us to have parents or our close family with us,” the former Chelsea defender said Athletics after the loss to France. “But it is true that some followers could not fly to America.
🚨🗣️ Kalidou Koulibaly: “The federation did the work so that we had parents or our close family with us. But it is true that some supporters could not fly to America.”
“I think every team can have their people, so I don’t understand why people from Africa can’t have theirs… pic.twitter.com/XpPLkUTdBH
— The touch line | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) 17 June 2026
“I think every team can have their people, so I don’t understand why people from Africa can’t have their people,” he continued. “I don’t want to talk about politics or anything like that, I just want to talk about football, enjoy football and I think football is for everyone.
“I just want to say this and I hope the situation will be okay, but for me the most important thing is that we have to play for our people.”
Of course, this is far from the first controversy around 2026 WCespecially when it comes to the United States, which has imposed strict travel restrictions on select countries.
Although co-hosts Canada and Mexico have also had their fair share of problems. We hope that when the tournament ends, the only thing people are talking about is the game on the pitch.
