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The administration of President Donald Trump does not rule out the possibility of conducting raids or detaining immigrants during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, signaling a tense atmosphere for the sporting event.
The head of the White House task force for organizing the event, Andrew Giuliani, stated this Wednesday at a press conference in Washington that the president "does not rule out anything that makes this country safer," reported EFE.
"What we will not tolerate are troublemakers who threaten security," declared Giuliani, who added that the sporting event will demonstrate that "security and hospitality can go hand in hand."
The World Cup, scheduled between June 11 and July 19, 2026, arrives amidst a tightening of immigration policy by the Trump administration, which has ramped up deportations, asylum restrictions, and visa reviews.
When asked about the possible denial of visas to foreigners planning to attend the matches, Giuliani stated that “every decision regarding a visa is a decision about national security.”
It was also recalled that anyone with a confirmed ticket for a match will have a priority appointment with immigration authorities to process their visa, as part of an agreement between FIFA and the White House.
The official —son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani— also emphasized that consular wait times have been reduced for countries such as Argentina, Ecuador, and Brazil, while citizens of Europe and Japan maintain visa exemption.
Regarding Haiti and Iran, nations included in the list of 19 countries banned from entering the United States, Giuliani acknowledged that “part of the sports delegations” from both countries have received special exemptions.
However, regarding the Haitian and Iranian fans, the official referred the decision to the Department of State, which is responsible for the final granting of visas.
The U.S. government expects over a million visitors during the World Cup, an event that is also expected to boost tourism and hotel occupancy in host cities such as Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, and New York.
At the same time, the administration of Donald Trump announced a new special visa mechanism for foreigners traveling to the United States for the 2026 World Cup.
The program, named “FIFA Pass”, will allow those who purchase official tournament tickets to obtain expedited consular interviews for their visa applications.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the system alongside the U.S. president in the Oval Office. "If you have a ticket for the World Cup, you can have priority appointments to obtain your visa," he stated.
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