You could argue the United States isn’t exactly the most welcoming country for visitors at the moment.
There’s been a surge of border crackdowns, new visa restrictions and an overall sense of fear over being detained amid multiple reports of foreigners being locked up for weeks in the five months since U.S. President Donald Trump took office.
Yet, one of the biggest, most highly anticipated and attended sports events is coming to the U.S. next year: the 2026 FIFA World Cup, soccer’s premier international competition.
The U.S. will co-host next year’s World Cup with Mexico and Canada. Of the 16 host cities, 11 are on American soil. It’s been estimated that, across the three countries, 6.5 million people will attend the tournament.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, an ally of Trump, has promised that international fans will be welcomeat the World Cup. But Trump’s immigration stance has raised questions about potential challenges for the numerous international fans expected …