700 days waiting for a visa...2026 World Cup, "A Feast for Americans Only"
700 days waiting for a visa...2026 World Cup, "A Feast for Americans Only"
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Ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North Korea-China, U.S. visa policies and waiting times have been raised to hamper global soccer fans.
The Athletic, a U.S. sports media outlet, said on the 2nd, "There are growing concerns that the waiting time copyright interviews in the U.S. is up to 700 days, and as a result, many overseas fans may not be able to visit the stadium," adding, "As President Donald Trump's anti-immigration policy is strengthened, there is a possibility that additional entry restrictions may be imposed on people in some countries."
U.S. State Department officials warned, "If the current visa policy is maintained, a significant number of overseas fans could be denied entry even if they legally purchase tickets."
The U.S. won the right to host the 2026 World Cup from FIFA in 2018. At the time, President Trump promised in a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino that he would "ensure that all players, officials, and fans can enter the country without discrimination." The Athletic said, "However, analysts say that Trump's immigration policy and visa assessment process in the U.S. have become stricter since he began his second term in January 2025.
According to the U.S. State Department, visa interview waiting periods for major countries are as follows. It is 700 days for Colombia, 560 days for Turkey, and 332 days for Morocco. "South American and African major soccer powers are not eligible for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (ESTA)," the media said. "Fans from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Mexico, and Morocco are highly likely not to get visas even if they purchase World Cup tickets."
FIFA adopted a "Haiya Card" system during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to automatically issue visas to ticket holders. However, the U.S. government rejected FIFA's similar proposal (such as the introduction of a World Cup-only visa system). The reason why the U.S. government rejected this proposal was because of "national security concerns." A U.S. State Department official refused FIFA's request, saying, "Unlike countries like Qatar and Russia, the U.S. should strictly maintain immigration procedures." FIFA also requested the introduction of a Schengen-style single visa system, which allows people to freely move to the three countries of the U.S., copyright, and Mexico, which was also rejected by the U.S. government. FIFA said, "The 2026 World Cup will bring about billions of dollars in economic benefits for the U.S. economy," and urged the U.S. government to come up with policies to make the World Cup an "open and inclusive" event.
Currently, there are concerns in the U.S. that the 2026 World Cup is likely to be a "festival only for Americans." Jeff Freeman, head of the U.S. Travel Association (USTA), said, "45 percent of overseas visitors to the U.S. currently come from countries that require visas. If the visa waiting time is this long, overseas fans will not be able to come at all." Fans of countries subject to the visa waiver program (Japan, Korea, major European countries, etc.) can enter the country relatively easily, but fans in Latin America and Africa still have to pass strict screening. A State Department official said, "The World Cup ticket alone does not guarantee entry," adding, "Fans must prove their stable jobs, overseas travel records, and financial status." 안전놀이터
In addition to the 2026 World Cup, the U.S. is scheduled to hold the 2025 Ryder Cup (Golf), the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in 2026. However, if the visa issue is not resolved, the success as an international event will inevitably be disrupted. The U.S. Travel Association suggested that "a White House-led government task force is needed to solve the visa problem," but so far, the U.S. government has remained silent. Former diplomat Murphy said, "President Trump says he likes sports, but there is no real policy," adding, "For now, the World Cup is likely to be an 'event only for Americans."