The US government announced, on Monday (17), the implementation of a special visa system aimed at fans who already have tickets for the 2026 World Cup. The initiative seeks to streamline the entry of foreigners during the biggest international soccer event.
According to a Bloomberg report, the State Department is leading the program, which provides priority interviews for visa applicants who have purchased official FIFA tickets.
It is expected that these expedited interviews will begin to be offered in early 2026, a strategic step to handle the expectation of millions of visitors during the tournament that will be held in three countries: United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Trump stated that the State and Homeland Security Departments worked to “ensure that soccer fans from all parts of the world are properly vetted and can come to the United States next summer with ease.” The president highlighted that reducing long wait times for visas has become a priority given the extraordinary influx of fans expected for the World Cup.
In a meeting at the White House with the task force created to coordinate the event preparations, the president received the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, who emphasized the importance of security. “I think security is the number one priority for the success of a World Cup,” Infantino said at the meeting held in the Oval Office.
The task force was established by executive order and its mission is to coordinate different federal agencies involved in the logistics, organization, and security of the tournament. Trump positioned himself as president of the group, while Vice President JD Vance serves as vice president, and Andrew Giuliani, son of political ally Rudy Giuliani, acts as executive director.
Trump’s close relationship with the sports world has influenced his actions in the preparations. The president has already attended various major events since returning to office and publicly reinforces his intention to facilitate the arrival of international delegations and fans. FIFA, in turn, has expanded its presence in the US, opening offices in New York and Miami in recent years to keep up with the growth of the operation.
Despite promises to facilitate the entry of foreigners, critics point out inconsistency between the new program and the government’s stance on immigration and public safety. Last month, Trump threatened to remove World Cup games from Boston and transfer the 2028 Olympic events from Los Angeles if he considered the cities not sufficiently prepared or safe.
In a meeting at the White House with the task force created to coordinate the event preparations, the president received the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, who emphasized the importance of security. “I think security is the number one priority for the success of a World Cup,” Infantino said at the meeting held in the Oval Office.
The task force was established by executive order and its mission is to coordinate different federal agencies involved in the logistics, organization, and security of the tournament. Trump positioned himself as president of the group, while Vice President JD Vance serves as vice president, and Andrew Giuliani, son of political ally Rudy Giuliani, acts as executive director.
Trump’s close relationship with the sports world has influenced his actions in the preparations. The president has already attended various major events since returning to office and publicly reinforces his intention to facilitate the arrival of international delegations and fans. FIFA, in turn, has expanded its presence in the US, opening offices in New York and Miami in recent years to keep up with the growth of the operation.
Despite promises to facilitate the entry of foreigners, critics point out inconsistency between the new program and the government’s stance on immigration and public safety. Last month, Trump threatened to remove World Cup games from Boston and transfer the 2028 Olympic events from Los Angeles if he considered the cities not sufficiently prepared or safe.
Source: brasil247.com