The rejection of "World Cup visas" raises demands for the refund of Moroccan fans' money.
The financial losses incurred by a number of Moroccan fans dreaming of following the "Atlas Lions" in the 2026 World Cup, due to the rejection of their visa applications, have renewed calls from consumer protection organizations to activate the right to "recover these funds" and provide objective legal justifications.
According to "Hespress English," U.S. authorities denied entry visas to at least 40 Moroccan fans who intended to attend the 2026 World Cup matches, despite having purchased match tickets and booked hotels in advance. Officials from fan associations explained that many of them suffered significant financial losses after paying for visa applications, tickets, and travel-related expenses, without receiving clear justifications for the rejection of their applications.
The same data indicates that some fans purchased tickets for three matches for about $1,500, while the cost of a single night in some hotels ranged between $400 and $1,000, bringing the total expenses for some to around 20,000 dirhams or more. Additionally, only 6 out of about 50 coordinators from another fan group received visas, resulting in financial and organizational losses that affected Moroccan fans' preparations to support the national team in the World Cup.
Ali Shtour, president of the Moroccan Association for Consumer Rights, stated that "the right of countries to grant or deny visas remains within their sovereign jurisdiction, but that does not prevent the demand for more transparency and clarity in various services related to visa applications, especially when it comes to expenses borne by citizens in hopes of benefiting from this service."
Shtour noted, in a statement to Hespress, that many citizens express their dissatisfaction with bearing significant financial costs without obtaining the desired outcome, which raises legitimate questions about ways to enhance communication with clients and clarify the nature of the fees paid, and whether they pertain only to the study of applications or include other services.