Controversy! Sporting's Diomande hit by 2026 World Cup issue | OneFootball

The organization of the World Cup by the United States has been surrounded by considerable controversy. After the entry of Somali referee Omar Artan was blocked at Miami airport due to Donald Trump’s immigration policy, this time it was Ivory Coast fans who were targeted.

The Ivorian national team, which makes its competition debut against Ecuador in the early hours of this Monday, the 15th, will have no support in the stadiums during its matches — from people coming from the country — due to the difficulty of obtaining visas.

Julien Kouadio Adonis, president of the CNSE, the National Committee for the Support of the Elephants, lamented the situation: “The fans gave up on the trip because the American government does not want to see fans from certain countries, including Ivory Coast, on its territory.”

“The United States was clear with us in saying that they did not want to see our fans. This situation hurts us deeply, because it prevents us from fulfilling our sovereign duty, which is to support our team,” he concluded, showing his dissatisfaction with the situation.

Among Ivory Coast’s called-up players is Ousmane Diomande, Sporting’s center-back. After winning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2024, the 22-year-old player is preparing to play in his first World Cup. After a highly successful season for the green and whites and with clubs interested in signing him, many eyes will be on the defender.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.