State Department preps for 2026 World Cup visa surge with security focus
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The 250th anniversary of the United States will coincide with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the majority of matches to be played in the United States starting in June. President Donald Trump played a key role in the initial preparations for the tournament, creating a White House task force that will focus on all aspects of the organization of the global event, with a central focus on the safety of U.S. citizens and international visitors.
Last month, the president announced a new initiative aimed at allowing foreign visitors traveling to the United States to receive priority visa appointments. The “FIFA Pass,” as the initiative is called, is expected to launch early next year, but the State Department is already working to accommodate the influx of travelers.
U.S. President Donald Trump (L-R) listens as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet with the White House Task Force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the White House Oval Office in Washington, DC, on November 17, 2025. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP)
Matt Pierce, acting principal assistant secretary of the Bureau of Consular Affairs, spoke to Fox News Digital ahead of Friday’s draw in Washington, D.C., and discussed the visa process and the State Department’s focus on welcoming international visitors while ensuring the Trump administration’s emphasis on national security.
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“As the President has stated, this will be the best World Cup, the most successful World Cup in history. And the Department of State is helping to do that by making appointments available to those who want to apply for a visa to come to the United States for the World Cup, without compromising in any way the equity of our visa process and the protection of our homeland through the visa process.”
According to Pierce, the State Department has already started working to meet the demands of passengers heading to the United States next year. More appointments have become available worldwide, and wait times for appointments have been reduced to less than sixty days in 80% of the world. That sentiment echoed remarks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month, when he said the administration was sending more than 400 additional consular officers around the world.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the State Department will suspend all Afghan passport visas. (Getty Images)
“We have shifted resources to key roles to ensure we have the capacity to handle ticketed fans, while continuing to rigorously screen visa applicants from a national security perspective,” Pierce said.
TRUMP ANNOUNCED THE ‘FIFA PASS’ VISA SYSTEM FOR MILLIONS OF WORLD CUP FANS WHO WILL GO TO AMERICA IN 2026
While much of the focus is on accommodating ticket holders, Pierce added that the primary concern is ensuring these visitors meet the criteria to enter the United States.
“This is something we take very, very seriously because the visa process is the front door to the United States.”
“The State Department is working with our partners across the government who are involved in the visa process to make sure that we are vetting everyone who applies for a visa and that they are people who are eligible for a visa and that we want those people to be in our country,” he said. “And so we’re confident in the systems and tools that we’ve put in place. This is a big focus of the Trump administration, and we’ve really devoted a lot of resources to making sure that this process is secure.”
US President Donald Trump made remarks at the White House Task Force meeting on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington DC on November 17, 2025, with the participation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, FIFA’s Senior Advisor for Global Strategy and Governance Carlos Cordeiro, and Representative Darin LaHood (R-III). (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
FIFA announced in October that 1 million tickets had been sold since official sales began earlier in the month. Buyers from the United States, Canada and Mexico, which host the tournament, topped the purchase totals.
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The Department of State encourages travelers who need a visa to apply immediately.
“This is truly a great opportunity to showcase the greatness of America to the world under President Trump’s leadership,” Pierce told Fox News Digital. he said. “And I think this is a great opportunity for our folks to come to the country during our historic anniversary for the greatest World Cup in history. I hope the fans who come here can see some of the sights around the country and really experience everything our country has to offer.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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