State Department to Boost Embassy Staffing to Handle World Cup Visa Applications

Travelers from countries covered under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program will generally not need to appear for interviews.

President Donald Trump holds the FIFA World Cup Winners Trophy as FIFA President Gianni Infantino looks on during an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House, Aug. 22, 2025. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File

The State Department says it will deploy additional staff to select U.S. embassies abroad, in anticipation of a surge in visa applications from soccer fans planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.

The department announced on Oct. 2 that it will deploy hundreds of consular officers to “designated countries” to handle the increased demand for visa interviews. The countries and number of staff have not yet been confirmed, pending the full qualification lineup for the 48-team tournament.

The World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is expected to draw an estimated 6.5 million visitors to the three countries. Individual match tickets officially went on sale on Wednesday, and 4.5 million people had already signed up for a lottery to secure the first chance to buy them.

Travelers from countries covered under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program will generally not need to appear for interviews. But those from non-waiver countries who don’t already have valid tourist or business visas will be required to apply in person, a process that includes enhanced security screening.

“Certain countries are going to be very, very easy and other countries are going to be, obviously, a little bit more difficult,” President Donald Trump said on Aug. 22 in the Oval Office, where he was presented the winner’s trophy by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, standing with the president, emphasized that visa applicants will undergo rigorous vetting.

“Millions of people will come to this country, and we'll make sure they get their travel documents, their visas, that they want to come here and spend their money and enjoy the sporting event,” she said.

In August, the Trump administration signaled that it would vet all 55 million foreigners who currently hold visas to visit, live in, or work in the United States for potential violations that could make them deportable. The review is also expected to cover their social media activity.

In June, the administration imposed a full travel ban on nationals from 12 countries, including Iran, which is designated a state sponsor of terrorism. While Iran has qualified for the World Cup, the order is unlikely to affect its participation, since there are exemptions for athletes, coaches, support staff, and their immediate family members traveling for the games.

The World Cup kicks off on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City. Eleven U.S. cities are slated to host matches: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Greater New York (into New Jersey), Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Trump has suggested that he would move the games elsewhere if concerns arise over crime in a host city.

“If any city we think is going to be even a little bit dangerous for the World Cup or for the [2028 Los Angeles] Olympics...but for the World Cup in particular, because they’re playing in so many cities, we won’t allow it,” Trump told reporters on Sept. 25.

“We'll move it around a little bit. But, I hope that’s not going to happen.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.