OPINION — The 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association World Cup is under way on American soil, the first time the United States has hosted the tournament in 32 years.
In exchange for the privilege of hosting the Cup, and the enormous revenue it generates, a host nation is generally expected to welcome visitors for the games. Previous World Cup host nations made this the norm by easing their visa policies.
South Africa in 2010 created a dedicated events visa and waived fees for ticketholders. Brazil in 2014 created a visa category tied directly to match tickets and also waived fees. Russia in 2018 abolished visa requirements entirely for Fan ID holders. Most recently, Qatar in 2022 created a universal entry document for all fans and loosened its terms further mid-tournament.
