The Trump administration says foreign soccer fans considering attending next year’s FIFA World Cup are welcome to visit for a good time, but not a long time.
At a meeting of the World Cup task force at the White House on Tuesday, administration officials extended a conditional welcome to those who would attend the tournament, which the United States is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico.
“Everyone is welcome to come and see this incredible event,” Vice President JD Vance said. “But when the time is up, they’ll have to go home. Otherwise, they’ll have to talk to Secretary Noem,” he added, referring to Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, another member of the panel.
Ms. Noem, speaking next, did not pick up Mr. Vance’s refrain. But Sean Duffy, the Transportation Secretary, soon echoed his sentiments.
“Go on a road trip. See America,” he said to potential visitors. But in the next breath, he added: “Don’t overstay your visa. Don’t stay too long.”
The blunt warnings to tourists not to overstay their visas is in keeping with the Trump administration’s approach to foreigners over the last few months, which has included not only deporting immigrants illegally present in the United States, but also efforts to expel or turn away some authorized to be in the country.
The aggressive posture has prompted many countries to issue travel advisories, warning their citizens to be wary when traveling to the United States.
It is not clear whether the Trump administration’s approach to foreign visitors will affect the tourism boom a World Cup typically brings.
The World Cup, a quadrennial event in which national soccer teams from across the globe compete for large cash prizes, a gold trophy and international bragging rights, draws in millions of spectators. In 2022, when Qatar hosted the competition, 3.4 million people attended the games, according to FIFA, with more than a million of those traveling from abroad.
Nearly a dozen U.S. cities and metropolitan areas stand to benefit from the influx of visitors by hosting games next year: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area. The World Cup final will take place in MetLife Stadium, home to New York’s two N.F.L. teams, the Giants and the Jets.
Canada will host games in Toronto and Vancouver, while Mexico will host games in Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey.
Mr. Trump indicated during the task force’s meeting on Tuesday that he was keenly aware of the World Cup’s economic potential, noting that “these events, if done properly, make a tremendous amount of money and prestige.” He signaled that he would support congressional efforts to budget $625 million for enhanced security around the games, of which there will be more than in past competitions: The 2026 World Cup will include 48 teams, up from 32. Seventy-eight of the 104 games will be in the United States.
Mr. Trump himself did not offer any admonitions to would-be visitors, but had a stern warning when asked whether pro-Palestinian protesters might have difficulty attending.
“I think people are allowed to protest,” he said. “You have to do it in a reasonable manner — not necessarily friendly but reasonable — otherwise Pam will come after you and you’re going to have a big problem,” he added, referring to Pam Bondi, the attorney general. Ms. Bondi was present at the meeting, but did not address reporters.
The Trump administration has been trying to deport a number of foreign nationals, including green card holders, who participated in campus protests calling for Palestinian statehood, as part of a crackdown that has inspired widespread debate about First Amendment rights. But displays of Palestinian solidarity are common at World Cup games.
In the 2022 World Cup, members of Morocco’s team held up Palestinian flags as they celebrated their victory over Spain. Fans unfurled giant banners featuring the Palestinian flag and the words “Free Palestine” during games between Tunisia and Australia and the Netherlands and Qatar. And pro-Palestinian chants were commonplace at many matches.
Ms. Noem said that her department had already started processing travel documents and visa applications for a new FIFA-sponsored competition of club teams, which will be played in the United States this summer. She said that event would be a precursor for the 2026 World Cup, and that the administration would put “all hands on deck to make sure this goes smoothly.”
Mr. Trump has entrusted stewardship of the 2026 World Cup to Andrew Giuliani, the son of Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City who previously served as a lawyer for Mr. Trump. The president named the younger Giuliani the task force’s executive director on Tuesday.
Andrew Giuliani was a special assistant and an assistant director of the White House’s Office of Public Liaison during Mr. Trump’s first term. His history as a professional golfer has earned him accolades from Mr. Trump.
Karoun Demirjian is a breaking news reporter for The Times.
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