Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly has raised concerns over the difficulties supporters from his country have faced travelling to the United States during the 2026 World Cup.
The 35-year-old defender spoke out after Senegalese fans were affected by restrictions around entry to America, with Koulibaly questioning why they had been unable to back their national team in person.
His comments came as Senegalese nationals were listed among those affected by United States travel restrictions, creating a difficult backdrop for supporters during the tournament.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Koulibaly made his position clear when asked about the issue, saying some supporters could not fly to America .
He added: "I think every team can have their people, so I don't understand why people from Africa cannot have their people."
He added: "I think every team can have their people, so I don't understand why people from Africa cannot have their people."
The quote underlined the frustration around Senegal's support at a tournament built around global participation and national identity.
It also placed the focus on ordinary supporters rather than the players themselves, with Koulibaly speaking as captain of a side trying to compete while fans face practical barriers.
The restrictions have not applied in the same way to official World Cup participants, with the official United States proclamation setting out exemptions for certain athletes and tournament personnel.
That distinction has left the focus on the people trying to follow Senegal from the stands, with Senegal fans facing visa difficulties around their country's World Cup campaign.
For Koulibaly, the issue is simple. Senegal are competing on the world stage, but some of their supporters have been unable to follow them there.
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