Ivory Coast will compete in the 2026 World Cup without several hundred of its home fans. The reason: visa issues for some of the fans who were supposed to accompany the Elephants to the United States. Around 500 Ivorian supporters were expected to follow the team during the tournament. The trip has now been cancelled. The National Committee of Elephants Supporters will not be able to send its usual group, as it had done for previous Ivorian World Cup appearances.
A major blow to the atmosphere surrounding the Elephants
Ivory Coast returns to the World Cup after several years' absence, but this comeback will be without a portion of its traditional fanbase. Supporters from Abidjan and other Ivorian cities will not be in the American stands to cheer on the team. Only a small official delegation has been granted the necessary permits. Its mission will be to support the Ivorian fans already in the country, particularly those from the diaspora. The Ivorian national team will therefore be able to count on fans living in the United States. More than 1,000 Ivorian supporters residing in the US could be mobilized during the tournament.
Two games in the United States are affected
Ivory Coast is in Group E with Germany, Ecuador, and Curaçao. Two of its three group matches are scheduled to be played in Philadelphia, USA. The third is set to take place in Toronto, Canada. For fans stranded in Ivory Coast, the problem is clear: having a ticket to a match is not enough. Entry into the United States still requires a visa. The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first to feature 48 teams. For the Elephants, it will begin with a noticeable absence: that of a portion of their supporters, unable to travel.
