Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – President Donald Trump stated that his administration is establishing a system to expedite visa processing for millions of fans expected to travel to the United States next year to attend the FIFA World Cup.
On Monday (November 17), after meeting with the White House World Cup task force, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the United States and FIFA will establish a priority appointment system for foreign fans holding World Cup tickets to apply for U.S. visas.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking alongside Trump, said the State Department has deployed more than 400 additional consular officials globally to handle the anticipated surge in visa applications from fans. He said those who have already purchased tickets will be guaranteed expedited appointments but will still undergo the same review process as other visa applicants.
Trump stated that his administration has already accelerated travel visa processing times, reducing wait times to 60 days in more than 80% of the world. He said that, in contrast, it typically takes a year to obtain a travel visa before his return to the White House in January.
“I have instructed my administration to do everything in its power to ensure the 2026 World Cup is an unprecedented success,” Trump said.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, speaking in the Oval Office, said FIFA expects to sell 6 to 7 million tickets for the World Cup, which will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The United States, along with Canada and Mexico, will co-host the tournament, with 11 U.S. cities hosting 78 of the 104 matches, including the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Infantino stated that he expects 5 to 10 million people to travel to the United States to attend the World Cup, with an additional 6 billion people watching via television broadcasts.
Trump said the World Cup will contribute $30 billion to the U.S. GDP and create nearly 200,000 jobs for Americans.
Washington is also preparing for the official draw for the World Cup soccer matches, scheduled for December 5 at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. Infantino said on Monday that he expects the event’s broadcast to attract up to 1 billion viewers.
