February 21 – The United States is about to embark upon hosting the two biggest sporting events on the planet, in the form of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and in 2028 the Olympic Games. However, according to a report released on Wednesday, the country is wholly unprepared for the burdens these events will place on its aging infrastructure.
The US Travel Association commissioned a report utilising the knowledge of former government officials and industry experts. The report highlighted concerns in three areas. Procurement of visas, infrastructure problems, not notably with air travel, and poor security technology.
When other events are factored in such as the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, and the Ryder Cup, it is estimated that the country could receive as many as 40 million additional visitors to the current 66 million it annually receives.
“We’re not ready to host the upcoming mega decade of events that will draw millions of domestic and international travellers. This poses risks to our national security and hampers economic growth,” the report says.
With the current Trump administration making drastic cuts to government agencies the US Travel Association said there needs to be a significant investment in both visa processing and airport security.
“The president has been outspoken about making this the gold standard of World Cups, the best Olympics that has ever been held,” Geoff Freeman, the US Travel Association’s CEO, told ESPN. “To do those things, to achieve those goals, you’ve got to make some of these investments.”
Freeman met White House officials in Washington recently and highlighted visa times are a point of concern. With Trump singling out random countries for sanctions, approval times have reached the point where even if you wanted to support your country in 2026, the wait time to receive a visa would prohibit a visit with Columbia an example with a two-year wait.
“People want to come, but they’re not coming,” Freeman said. “It gets down to these visa wait times. It gets down to the customs inefficiencies. It gets down to a perception in instances that people aren’t welcome. We’re very concerned.”
Trump has been involved in a very public bromance with FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently and eyes will be on the relationship as the World Cup nears.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1740175420labto1740175420ofdlr1740175420owedi1740175420sni@o1740175420fni1740175420