May 7 – With the United States, Canada, and Mexico rapidly approaching their hosting duties for upcoming FIFA events, soccer’s world governing body convened a critical workshop at Audi Field, home of DC United, targeting staff members from foreign embassies.
The event, organised by FIFA’s government affairs team, featured representatives from the U.S. State Department and Department of Homeland Security offering guidance on a range of essential topics: accreditation procedures, visa requirements for U.S. travel, safety and security protocols, and arrangements for visiting heads of state.
Nearly 200 embassy staff and government officials attended the half-day session, which included a special video message from FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
With the Trump administration’s previous threats to restrict certain countries from U.S. entry still fresh in memory, State Department officials and the Consular Affairs Bureau attempted to calm concerns about visa processing times. Their representatives claimed the worldwide median wait time for interview appointments is just 30 days – a figure that starkly contradicts their own website’s published data.
Nations on track to qualify for the 2026 tournament face dramatically longer waits: Colombia (18 months), Ecuador (11 months), Mexico (9.5 months), Peru (8 months), and Côte d’Ivoire (5.5 months) all showing processing timelines that make the ‘30 days’ claim seem like fantasy.
While accredited journalists, team personnel, and corporate partners can request expedited visa processing, this option is not expected to extend to ordinary fans hoping to attend matches.
Meanwhile, at the White House, the World Cup Task Force is preparing for its first meeting following the swearing-in of Andrew Giuliani as the committee’s executive director. Yes – apparently the son of disgraced former New York mayor and Trump personal attorney Rudy Giuliani is now overseeing America’s World Cup preparations. The mind truly boggles at what qualifications young Giuliani brings to this position beyond his last name, proximity to power and being Trump’s favorite golfing partner.
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