The president of the National Committee of Elephants Supporters (CNSE), Julien Kouadio Adonis, said Ivorian supporters based in the country had been unable to secure visas to travel to the United States for the World Cup.

According to Kouadio, the group had originally hoped to send hundreds of supporters to follow the national team during the tournament.

"The supporters have cancelled the trip because the US government does not want to see supporters from certain countries, including Ivory Coast, on its soil," he said.

"This situation hurts us deeply because it prevents us from fulfilling our sacred duty, which is to support our team."

World Cup travel plans disrupted

In March, the supporters' group had expressed hopes that around 500 fans would travel from Ivory Coast to attend matches in North America.

However, Kouadio said those plans had now been abandoned due to visa-related difficulties.

He added that a small number of CNSE officials had received permission to travel and would assist Ivorian supporters already residing in the United States.

The organisation estimates that more than 1,000 Ivory Coast supporters based in the US are expected to attend matches.

The claims come amid wider concerns surrounding entry and visa issues during the World Cup.

Reports in recent days have indicated that some individuals connected to the tournament, including officials and support staff from various countries, have faced travel complications linked to US visa policies.

The issue has prompted debate about accessibility for fans and participants attending one of the world's biggest sporting events.

Ivory Coast's World Cup campaign

Ivory Coast are making their first World Cup appearance since 2014 and have generated significant excitement among supporters.

The team is scheduled to play Ecuador and Curacao in Philadelphia, with another group-stage match against Germany in Toronto.

The squad has established its training base in Delaware as preparations continue for the tournament.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico. While organisers have promoted the tournament as a global celebration of football, visa and travel concerns have emerged as a key issue for some participating nations and their supporters.

The United States has not publicly responded to the specific allegations made by the Ivorian supporters' organisation.
(With AFP inputs)