Visa delays and safety concerns may keep international fans from Club World Cup [Video]

U.S. — As the United States preps for the FIFA Club World Cup, concern over such things as international travel, fan safety and even economic uncertainty threatens to diminish enthusiasm for the tournament.

The United States will see the arrival of 32 professional club teams from around the globe to 11 cities for the tournament. There’s a $1 billion prize pool.

The Club World Cup is considered in many ways to be a dress rehearsal for the big event, the 2026 World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

But there seems to be little buzz for the Club World Cup at home or abroad. The expansion of the field from seven to 32 teams has diminished the exclusivity of the event, and ticket sales appear slow.

At the same time, the tournament is being played amid reports of foreign tourists being detained and visa processing delays. Chaotic U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activitiesand President Donald Trump’s travel bans aren’t …