The U.S. government has unveiled a new fast-track visa system aimed at facilitating entry for the millions of visitors expected for the 2026 World Cup. This system, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, prioritizes visa appointment scheduling for ticket holders, allowing them to move to the front of the line for visa interviews. However, Rubio emphasized that holding a ticket does not guarantee entry into the United States, stating, "Your ticket is not a visa. It doesn’t guarantee admission to the US. It guarantees you an expedited appointment. You’re still going to go through the same vetting."

Despite the expedited processing, there remains a risk that non-American citizens among the anticipated million ticket holders could be barred from entry, even with valid match passes. FIFA President Gianni Infantino indicated that the organization expects to sell between 6 to 7 million tickets, with an estimated 5 to 10 million attendees from around the world.

To accommodate the expected surge in visa applications, the State Department has deployed over 400 additional consular officers globally, effectively reducing visa wait times from up to a year to approximately 60 days in about 80% of countries. Rubio noted that countries like Brazil and Argentina have seen significant reductions in appointment wait times.

In a separate development, former President Donald Trump has suggested the possibility of relocating matches from host cities he perceives as problematic, specifically mentioning Seattle and its newly elected mayor, whom he described as "very, very liberal-slash-communist." Trump expressed a willingness to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles, citing concerns over crime and emphasizing the need for safety during the event. He characterized the World Cup as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" for the U.S., which last hosted the tournament in 1994. The 2026 World Cup will be notable for featuring an expanded format with 48 teams, up from the traditional 32.