World Cup 2026 Under Pressure: US Visa Pause Threatens Global Fans

US visa suspension casts shadow over World Cup 2026 attendance

The United States has officially suspended immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, including 13 Arab states, raising fears that World Cup 2026 may suffer lower attendance from foreign fans.

A State Department statement said visa processing for those 75 nations will be halted, potentially complicating fans' plans to travel to the tournament.

The administration argued that migrants from these countries have shown unacceptable levels of reliance on US government aid.

The pause will stay in place until the United States can ensure that new migrants do not drain resources from the American people, according to the announcement.

In past tournaments like Qatar 2022 and Russia 2018, organizers explored alternatives such as a fan card to substitute visas or ease entry; the United States, however, maintains standard consular procedures for all fans.

FIFA did not intervene directly, but warned that owning a match ticket does not guarantee entry and that visa requirements remain in force for the host nations. It advised fans to check official government sites of Canada, Mexico, and the United States for entry rules.

Given the time needed to process visas, FIFA suggested applying early, and noted a FIFA Pass program that may prioritize visa appointments for World Cup 2026 ticket holders in the coming weeks.

The 13 affected Arab states are Egypt, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Somalia, Kuwait, and Yemen.

Punchline 1: If patience were a sport, fans would win the World Cup before their visas are stamped.

Punchline 2: The real kickoff is at the embassy, where the only red card is the pile of forms.