\u201cFor those who intend to join us for the World Cup, I strongly encourage you to apply right away,\u201d says Trump
\n WASHINGTON
\nPresident Donald Trump on Monday unveiled special fast-track visas for people with tickets to the 2026 World Cup \u2014 but his administration warned it was no guarantee of entry to the United States.
\nThe United States has promised a seamless experience for next year\u2019s tournament despite concerns that Trump\u2019s border crackdown could hurt fans.
\n\u201cFor those who intend to join us for the World Cup, I strongly encourage you to apply right away,\u201d Trump said as he announced the scheme in the Oval Office with Gianni Infantino, the boss of global soccer body FIFA.
\nInfantino \u2014 who has repeatedly appeared at Trump\u2019s side since the Republican\u2019s return to the White House in January \u2014 said the so-called \u201cFIFA Pass\u201d was a \u201cvery important announcement.\u201d
\n\u201cIf you have a ticket for the World Cup, you can have a prioritized appointment to get your visa,\u201d Infantino said.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ll have between five and 10 million people coming to America from all over the world to enjoy the World Cup, and with this FIFA pass, we can make sure that those who buy a ticket, that are legitimate football fans or soccer fans, they can come and attend the World Cup in the best conditions.\u201d
\nUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio however, issued a warning to those hoping to come for the tournament.
\n\u201cYour ticket is not a visa,\u201d Rubio said at the announcement. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t guarantee admission to the US. It guarantees you an expedited appointment, but you\u2019re still going to go through the same vetting.\u201d
\nRubio said ticket holders would get an interview within six to eight weeks under the plan, but urged people to act now.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t wait till the last minute,\u201d he said.
\nTrump has made the World Cup a centerpiece event of both his second presidency and the 250th anniversary of US independence next year.
\nBut the giant sporting extravaganza has not escaped the political turmoil caused by Trump\u2019s hardline stance on a host of issues.
\nTrump has raised the possibility of moving games from certain host cities amid a crackdown on what he says is crime and migration in some Democratic-run cities.
\nThe draw for the World Cup is due to take place in Washington on December 5.
\nFIFA will present a new peace prize on the same day, with widespread speculation that it could go to Trump.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cFor those who intend to join us for the World Cup, I strongly encourage you to apply right away,\u201d says Trump WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Monday unveiled special fast-track visas for people with tickets to the 2026 World Cup \u2014 but his administration warned it was no guarantee of entry to the United States. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":515394,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-515384","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n