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Wednesday, Nov 19, 2025
Outside the box.
President Trump Holds White House Meeting With FIFA 2026 Task Force Ahead of World Cup
U.S. leader convenes federal coordination body as preparations accelerate for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
President Donald Trump met on Monday with the White House Task Force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup to coordinate preparations for the tournament being jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
The gathering underscored the administration’s elevated commitment to making the event a global showcase of commerce, tourism and national pride.
Established by executive order in March so that the U.S. federal government could “support preparations through a coordinated effort”, the task force is chaired by President Trump and includes senior officials from the State Department, Department of Homeland Security, Commerce, Transportation and other agencies.
Its mandate anticipates the largest sporting event in history, spanning 48 teams, 104 matches and three nations.
At the meeting the administration announced the “FIFA Pass” system, which gives ticket-holders prioritised U.S. visa interview access through the “FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System”.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio disclosed that over 400 additional consular officers have been deployed worldwide and that visa wait times in key source markets such as Brazil and Argentina have already fallen to under 60 days.
Trump described the country’s aim as “an unprecedented success”.
The event also served as a platform for Trump to reaffirm America’s role as a global host and to emphasise synergy between sport, diplomacy and economic policy.
The president noted that hosting the tournament coincides with the nation’s 250th anniversary and will bring significant job creation and tourism benefits.
Analysts estimate the World Cup could generate tens of billions of dollars in output and hundreds of thousands of jobs.
By convening this task force at the White House, the administration signalled high-level attention to ensuring infrastructure readiness, security coordination and streamlined travel logistics to welcome millions of visitors to U.S. soil.
As the draw for the competition approaches and ticket demand surges globally, the tournament is positioned as both a sporting milestone and a strategic tool for U.S. branding and international engagement.
The gathering underscored the administration’s elevated commitment to making the event a global showcase of commerce, tourism and national pride.
Established by executive order in March so that the U.S. federal government could “support preparations through a coordinated effort”, the task force is chaired by President Trump and includes senior officials from the State Department, Department of Homeland Security, Commerce, Transportation and other agencies.
Its mandate anticipates the largest sporting event in history, spanning 48 teams, 104 matches and three nations.
At the meeting the administration announced the “FIFA Pass” system, which gives ticket-holders prioritised U.S. visa interview access through the “FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System”.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio disclosed that over 400 additional consular officers have been deployed worldwide and that visa wait times in key source markets such as Brazil and Argentina have already fallen to under 60 days.
Trump described the country’s aim as “an unprecedented success”.
The event also served as a platform for Trump to reaffirm America’s role as a global host and to emphasise synergy between sport, diplomacy and economic policy.
The president noted that hosting the tournament coincides with the nation’s 250th anniversary and will bring significant job creation and tourism benefits.
Analysts estimate the World Cup could generate tens of billions of dollars in output and hundreds of thousands of jobs.
By convening this task force at the White House, the administration signalled high-level attention to ensuring infrastructure readiness, security coordination and streamlined travel logistics to welcome millions of visitors to U.S. soil.
As the draw for the competition approaches and ticket demand surges globally, the tournament is positioned as both a sporting milestone and a strategic tool for U.S. branding and international engagement.
