Fears that Trump reforms could keep World Cup 2026 fans out of the US Trump promised to allow all eligible athletes, fans and officials without discrimination into the U.S. for the 2026 World Cup but harsh immigration policies could threaten that.
Long visa appointment wait times combined with harsher regulations implemented by President Donald Trump could make it more difficult for soccer fans to make it to the United States next year for the World Cup.
In turn, soccer fans across the world could be blocked from visiting the U.S. for the World Cup – something Trump promised against when he made a bid for the U.S. to host the soccer tournament in 2018.
He said he was “confident” the U.S. would host the World Cup in a “similarly open and festive manner” like when it hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics and 1994 World Cup.
It could particularly be an issue for Central and South American soccer fans who wanted to travel to the U.S. for the World Cup.
