Germany's players will pay for 600 fans to travel by bus to their final World Cup group-stage match, even as Haiti and Iran face full travel restrictions, while Ivory Coast and Senegal are subject to partial restrictions on entry into the United States.
The four-time world champions' main concern has been the high transportation costs associated with the tournament. Train tickets, which normally cost $12.90 (£9.50) from central New York to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey—where Germany will face Ecuador in their final Group E match on June 25—were increased to $150 for the tournament before later being reduced to $98.
"In light of the high cost of bus and train travel in New York during the World Cup, the German national team players have organised free transport to the final group match for 600 fans," the German Football Association (DFB) said.
"Captain Joshua Kimmich and his team-mates are covering the cost of buses to take supporters from New York to the arena in New Jersey for the match against Ecuador," the BBC reported on Thursday.
Shuttle bus fares, initially priced at $80 for a similar journey, have since been reduced to $20. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said the inflated prices were due to FIFA's refusal to subsidise transport costs.
However, from an African perspective, U.S. immigration policies are increasingly being viewed by some as discriminatory, especially given FIFA's motto: "For the Game. For the World."
Haiti, who are in Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco and Scotland, face full travel restrictions. The same applies to Iran, who are in Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. As a result, supporters from both nations will face significant barriers to travelling to the United States to support their teams.
For the Ivory Coast and Senegal, the situation is equally disappointing. Both countries are among Africa's top-ranked football nations and have many players competing in elite leagues across Europe and the Middle East.
Ivory Coast are in Group E alongside Germany, Curaçao and Ecuador, while Senegal, runners-up at the last Africa Cup of Nations, are in Group I with two-time world champions France, Iraq and Norway. Although the restrictions imposed on Ivory Coast and Senegal are only partial, they still do not guarantee entry into the United States for supporters from those countries.
The situation presents an ongoing challenge for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who continues to face scrutiny over issues surrounding the tournament. The controversy could remain a major talking point long after the World Cup concludes.