Locked Out of the World’s Game: How U.S. Visa Politics Are Reshaping the FIFA World Cup
This year promises to be an eventful one for soccer, with the FIFA World Cup approaching and fans purchasing tickets to watch their national teams play across North America. Most of the groups have been decided upon, and the venues for the games have already been assigned. Nevertheless, amidst the usual organizational chaos that surrounds a sporting event of this magnitude, unexpected problems have arisen. New immigration policies in the US have sparked controversy, as they are said to lack a global perspective, which is characteristic of the FIFA World Cup spirit. Moreover, some worry that hosting such an event under the current political situation in the US might send a negative message to the world.
Over the last 33 days, FIFA has received 500 million ticket requests from fans worldwide. It is the most coveted sports event in history, and the first soccer World Cup to host 48 teams. Yet, the international aspect of the championship brings to light an unforeseen problem: new immigration laws. Starting January 21st, the US will stop issuing immigrant visas for 75 new countries from multiple regions of the world. Although these policies do not affect FIFA ticket holders or tourists, the measure allegedly suggests longer visa waiting times and document processing for citizens of the affected countries. FIFA is working alongside Mexico, Canada, and the US to expedite the visa process for fans through the FIFA PASS, but some remain unsure.
Politicians from diverse nations have called to strip the US of the FIFA World Cup. A group of UK politicians from several different parties wrote a petition to remove the US as host of the event. The motion, mainly motivated by the political actions taken by the US military in Venezuela, was seen as a violation of international law. FIFA has not commented on this notion, suggesting that it will probably not be taken into consideration. Although chances remain slim that the US will effectively be stripped from the World Cup, the pressure from external countries exists.
FIFA has done what it can to reassure fans that they will be able to attend the World Cup, but it has also expressed that a ticket is not equivalent to a visa. With international tensions growing, a global event such as this one might be a rare opportunity to allow for dialogue among citizens of diverse nations. Sports have the power to break through political barriers, and this World Cup’s success showcases that soccer might be some sort of universal glue. Hopefully, fans across the planet will be able to enjoy this event in different ways, despite the recent occurrences.
