US state secretary vows to tackle visa backlog before 2026 FIFA World Cup

As US gets ready to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games, US secretary of state Marco Rubio has told lawmakers that the Trump administration is considering introducing double shifts in some of its diplomatic missions worldwide to clear visa backlogs.

Currently, six countries — India, Canada, Colombia, Honduras, Turkey and the UAE — have at least one US diplomatic post with visa appointment wait times that extend beyond the start of the first FIFA game in the United States in 2026.

“We are looking for ways to do double shifts in some of our embassies. For example, if you haven't applied for a visa from Colombia already, you probably won't get here in time for the World Cup unless we go to double shifts,” Rubio told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on 21 May.

He was responding to questions on the visa backlogs in various countries by lawmakers who apprehend these might impact the flow of tourists during these two major events over the next couple of years.

“We've even talked about reassigning foreign service officers, many of who were trained earlier in their career in consular services to provide 24-hour presence in some of our embassies and consulates around the world just to handle the visa load for things like the FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Club Cup, and then the Olympics two years behind it,” Rubio said.

A day earlier, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove led 55 lawmakers in a bipartisan letter to Rubio inquiring about the State Department’s plans to ensure quick and secure visa processing for the expected influx of visitors coming to the US for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2028 Olympic Games, and other major international sporting competitions.

“The Olympics have the potential to bring up to 15 million visitors to the U.S. and produce an estimated $18 billion in economic impact. Over 5 billion viewers are projected to watch the FIFA World Cup, which could bring millions of visitors to the United States across 11 cities and generate an estimated $3.75 billion in economic revenue,” the lawmakers wrote.

“However, the success of these games hinges on the State Department’s ability to efficiently process the visa applications of spectators, athletes, and media, including providing adequate visa appointment availability and strategically offering visa interview waiver services where appropriate,” they said.

Courtesy: 5wh.com