US President Donald Trump holds the first meeting of his administration’s taskforce for the 2026 World Cup in Washington. The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Tens of millions of visitors will come, generating huge economic spillover that produces hundreds of billions in economic benefit. Trump expressed confidence that the event would proceed smoothly, asserting it would be the “biggest, safest and most extraordinary soccer tournament in history.”
Fulfilling lofty expectations from the day’s taskforce meeting, Trump even underscored the possible economic windfall that the World Cup could bring. He estimated that the event could generate “tens of billions of dollars in economic activities for local businesses,” along with creating “thousands and thousands of jobs for American workers.” Unfortunately, a new report from the non-profit Ominculture paints a chilling picture of the United States’ level of preparedness to host such a large-scale event. The tourism sector has been especially concerned about this provision.
Key issues highlighted included the lengthy wait times for visas and the aging transit infrastructure that might hinder visitors’ experiences. In anticipation of the tournament, FIFA expects thousands of foreign attendees. According to some recent news reports, visa processing times have ballooned to a year or more. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem anticipates as much as 2 million foreign guests. She committed to having her department work closely with the Department of State and with the FBI to ensure proper documentation of travelers is handled before and during travel.
Despite these challenges, taskforce members remained optimistic. “We want them to come, we want them to celebrate, we want them to watch the game,” said JD Vance, a member of the taskforce. He was fearful that as most of those visitors came for a one-time event, those folks would quickly have to go home. He added, “When the time is up, they’ll have to go home. Otherwise they’ll have to talk to Secretary Noem.”
Here’s the thing, during that meeting, it appeared to all of us that President Trump was totally blindsided by an important truth. Russia was already excluded from FIFA competitions due to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Just recently, FIFA President Gianni Infantino reiterated that Russia remains suspended from all FIFA competitions. In addition to calling for peace, he reiterated his hope for Russia’s eventual re-admittance.
As preparations for the World Cup continue, officials must navigate the complexities surrounding visitor access and ensure a smooth experience for all attendees. Pulling off such an enormous event successfully requires serious, coordinated efforts from all levels of government. That takes a firm resolve to face these logistical challenges squarely.