Donald Trump tells one nation’s followers to STAY AWAY from World Cup in America

This week has seen a number of nations celebrate World Cup qualification but supporters of Haiti will not be able to watch their teams’ exploits in the United States next summer

President Donald Trump’s administration will not permit supporters from Haiti to enter the United States next summer after the nation qualified for the World Cup. The country is one of 42 nations to have cemented their place in the tournament to be hosted in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The US will not grant any special exceptions to a travel ban signed by Trump in June. The proclamation restricts people from 19 countries from entering the United States with Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela all facing a form of restriction.

There are exemptions for players and their families, as well as coaches and support personnel, to participate in major sporting events, however. For now, supporters will not be able to watch their countrymen in person, after they qualified to compete in the men’s World Cup for the first time since 1974.

Trump has previously referred to Haiti, in addition to El Salvador and African nations, as ‘s***hole countries’ during a 2018 meeting about immigration.

The State Department said fans can still submit visa applications and schedule interviews in the hope of attending matches. They ‘may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States’, however.

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Exceptions may also be allowed for applicants whose travel would ‘advance U.S. national interest’. A State Department spokesperson said such exceptions will be ‘very rare’.

Haiti have not played a game at home in four years due to gang violence. The nation’s French coach, Sebastien Migne, has not set foot on Haiti since being appointed 18 months ago and home matches are played 500 miles away in Curacao.

“It’s impossible because it’s too dangerous,” said Migne. “I usually live in the countries where I work, but I can’t here. There are no more international flights landing there,” he told France Football magazine.

Trump met with the World Cup Task Force on Monday at the White House and was joined by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The pair have maintained a close relationship with Infantino planning to present the 79-year-old with FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize.

Speaking about the economic boon the tournament brings, Trump asked the FIFA chief about his cut. “The World Cup will also be an incredibly significant economic opportunity for countless American workers and businesses,” Trump said, reading from a pre-prepared statement.

“It’s expected to drive more than $30 billion. Gianni, I don’t know about that!” he said in disbelief. “That sounds like a lot of money? Are you sure?”

“It’s true! 100 percent,” Infantino returned.

“How much does the country get out of that? 20 percent? Do we get like a percentage of the gross?” offered Trump, half-joking.

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