The United States is preparing for a historic convergence of major events in 2026, and officials say World Cup security is now at the center of federal planning. President Donald Trump launched a White House task force to oversee preparations for the FIFA World Cup, which will coincide with America’s 250th anniversary and bring millions of international visitors beginning in June. The administration has directed federal agencies to streamline travel while strengthening screening tools for foreign arrivals.
Trump’s recently announced “FIFA Pass” aims to provide priority visa appointments for overseas fans. The initiative is expected to launch early next year, but the State Department has already expanded global appointment availability. Matt Pierce, acting principal deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, told Fox News Digital the goal is to balance access with protection. “As the president has mentioned, this is going to be the best World Cup… while not sacrificing at all the equity of our visa process and the protection of our homeland,” he said. According to Pierce, 80% of countries now have visa wait times under sixty days.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously noted that more than 400 consular officers have been deployed worldwide to support the surge in applications. Pierce emphasized that heightened resources do not change the government’s first priority: national security. “This is something that we take very, very seriously because the visa process, that’s the front door to the United States,” he said, adding that strict vetting remains central to the Trump administration’s approach. “We’re confident in our systems and tools… and this is a huge focus of the Trump administration.”
FIFA reported that more than 1 million tickets have already been sold, with U.S., Canadian and Mexican buyers leading demand. The State Department is urging travelers to apply for visas early, noting that increased capacity is designed to prevent bottlenecks. Pierce described the tournament as a moment for the nation to highlight its strengths. “This is a really great opportunity under President Trump’s leadership to showcase American greatness to the world,” he said.
