FIFA holds meeting with foreign officials to ease concerns about visa wait times for 2026 World Cup

FIFA held a workshop for staff members of foreign embassies in Washington D.C., as federal officials sought to assuage concerns about wait times for U.S. visas for fans planning attend the 2026 World Cup, according to Sports Business Journal.

The event was led by FIFA’s government affairs team and included representatives from the U.S. State Department and Department of Homeland Security, who provided guidance on issues related to accreditation, travel to the U.S., safety and security, delegation logistics and protocols for the movement of heads of state.

Visa wait times are one of a multitude of logistical concerns held by stakeholders ahead of the 2026 tournament, in which 78 of the competition's 104 matches - including the final - will be held in the U.S. Representatives at the meeting reportedly said that the wait for an interview should be around 30 days.

That runs counter to some of the current data from the U.S. government, which shows windows of nearly a year for some countries. Some nations qualify for a visa waiver program, which allows foreign nationals to stay in the United States for up to 90 days without official documentation.

The White House announced that the task force it will be headed by former N.Y. gubernatorial candidate Andrew Giuliani - the son of long-time Trump ally Rudy Giuliani.