With less than 300 days to go before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, excitement and tension are building in equal measure. On August 30, 2025, FIFA president Gianni Infantino addressed a packed press conference in Nairobi, aiming to quell mounting concerns over whether fans from around the world—especially from Africa and other nations facing US visa restrictions—will truly be welcomed at the sport’s grandest stage.
“Everyone will be welcome for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year. The US and its co-host have committed to make the process of people travelling to their countries,” Infantino declared, seeking to reassure worried supporters and officials. His remarks came in response to pointed questions from African journalists and soccer officials, who highlighted the unease sparked by recent shifts in US immigration policy since Donald Trump returned to the presidency in November 2024.
Since the policy overhaul, the US has seen a wave of deportations and the imposition of new visa bans and restrictions affecting dozens of countries. The resulting uncertainty has cast a shadow over preparations for the 23rd edition of the World Cup, which will feature a record 48 teams and 104 matches across 16 cities. At least nine African nations are expected to qualify, with Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa currently leading their groups. A tenth African team could join the tournament via inter-continental playoffs, whose draw is set for December 5, 2025, at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center—a momentous occasion jointly announced by Infantino and President Trump in the Oval Office just last week.
“We are going to play it in a country where some of us do not feel welcome,” stated a South African reporter during the CAF press conference at Nairobi’s Villa Rosa Kempinski hotel. The reporter urged both Infantino and CAF president Patrice Motsepe to ensure that African fans and visitors are not treated as “outcast… second-class citizens.” Motsepe responded with confidence, noting that “discreet work with US authorities had secured commitments to make the World Cup run smoothly,” and promised that “there will be sufficient access to African fans in the World Cup next year.”
Infantino, who described himself as “Kenyan and African” in his opening remarks, made a point of emphasizing unity and inclusivity: “It is my pleasure to be in my country, Kenya, and my continent, Africa, for the final of Chan 2024. We are all CAF. We are all Fifa. We are all football. We are all united.” He also congratulated the hosts of the Chan 2024 tournament—Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda—for organizing an “excellent tournament,” and praised Kenyan President William Ruto as “a great football fan.”
The FIFA leader’s reassurances, however, have not fully allayed concerns. The Trump administration’s June announcement of travel bans came with promises of exemptions for teams and officials attending both the World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Still, the prospects for regular fans remain less certain. Tickets for the World Cup are set to go on sale on September 10, 2025, and fans from countries on various US watch lists—including Iran, which has already qualified—are anxiously awaiting clarity on whether they’ll be able to secure visas in time for the tournament.
Infantino pointed to the recent Club World Cup, hosted in 11 US cities in June and July, as evidence that international fans can attend American-hosted soccer events without major issues. “Fans came from 164 countries to the month-long Club World Cup hosted in 11 U.S. cities in June and July ‘without of course any problems’ with visas,” he said. He also called for optimism: “Be positive, you will see there will be a great, great celebration of the greatest FIFA World Cup ever.”
Beyond the question of visas and travel, the upcoming World Cup presents a series of logistical and security challenges for the host nations. On September 17, 2025, the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative will convene a panel discussion focused on building homeland resilience ahead of the tournament. The panel, featuring experts such as Julia Nesheiwat, Dilpreet Sidhu, and moderator Samantha Vinograd, will delve into topics like cybersecurity, protecting critical infrastructure, and countering terrorism threats. The goal: to enhance coordination among the US, Canada, Mexico, and FIFA, ensuring that the tournament runs smoothly and securely amid a complex global landscape.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Men’s National Team, under the guidance of head coach Mauricio Pochettino, is deep into preparations for what is being billed as a historic home-soil World Cup. With only a handful of international windows remaining before the big kickoff, Pochettino has mapped out a detailed plan for both individual players and the squad as a whole. September’s friendlies against Korea Republic and Japan are among the final opportunities for hopefuls to impress the coaching staff and stake their claim for a roster spot.
“I think [this] is going to be the last camp to have the possibility for us to see players, new faces,” Pochettino explained after announcing his September roster. “And also with all the conditions — injured players, players that started the preseason late, players that moved from one club to another. In all that consideration, we have a plan for every single player.”
Pochettino’s approach is uncompromising: “No place is safe.” He’s called in 10 players with fewer than 10 caps and 12 from the recent Concacaf Gold Cup Final run, aiming to develop depth and foster healthy competition. “Players need to feel that the threat from your teammates, and they need to defend their place in every single possibility,” he said, emphasizing that even established stars cannot rest easy. The coach and his staff maintain frequent contact with players’ club coaches to monitor form and fitness, especially for those returning from injury—such as Antonee Robinson and Ricardo Pepi—or adapting to new club environments, like Johnny Cardoso at Atlético Madrid and Weston McKennie at Juventus.
“We have experience, we have the quality and the capacity to see and to detect and to analyze and to create the best plan to arrive in the best condition,” Pochettino noted. “Now, it's up to the players. We want to have the best players to compete in the best way in the World Cup, and for sure we are going to arrive with the best roster to compete.”
As the countdown to June 2026 continues, the eyes of the footballing world are fixed on North America. From visa anxieties and security preparations to the fierce competition for roster spots, the road to the World Cup is packed with intrigue and uncertainty. But if Infantino’s optimism and Pochettino’s meticulous planning are any indication, fans can expect a tournament that—despite the hurdles—aims to unite the globe in celebration of the beautiful game.
For now, the action is ongoing both on and off the pitch, as federations, officials, and fans alike brace themselves for what promises to be an unforgettable summer of football in 2026.
