With the eyes of the world soon turning to North America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, preparations are ramping up across the United States, from the bustling heart of Silicon Valley to the nation’s capital and the iconic stadiums that will host the globe’s biggest sporting spectacle. As anticipation builds, so too does the urgency to ensure safety, smooth logistics, and a welcoming atmosphere for millions of soccer fans expected to descend on U.S. soil.
In San Jose, California, the buzz is palpable—not just among soccer enthusiasts, but also among emergency responders and healthcare professionals. On October 2, 2025, Santa Clara County hosted a large-scale emergency drill designed to simulate the very worst: a bomb detonation at Levi's Stadium, followed by a hazardous substance release. The scenario, though fictional, was treated with utmost seriousness. Staff at Santa Clara Valley Health Care donned full protective gear, erected decontamination tents, and set up triage zones at O'Connor Hospital, all while mannequins stood in for injured patients. The purpose? To practice rapid, coordinated response to a mass casualty incident, a skill that could prove vital when the world’s attention is focused on the Bay Area for the World Cup and Super Bowl LX.
"We are practicing a scenario where a bomb had just detonated at Levi's Stadium, and so we're preparing to receive some injured patients that are coming here from that explosion. This is just a practice event, not a real thing, but our team is preparing to receive some of those injured patients," explained Sheila Tuna, the service line director of disaster preparedness for Santa Clara Valley Healthcare. The drill didn’t just focus on trauma care; it also emphasized the challenges of decontaminating patients exposed to hazardous substances before they could be safely treated in the hospital. "We're expecting the patient, the injured patients, to be coming covered with some kind of a substance. So they will be washing and decontaminating the patients before they enter into the hospital for treatment," Tuna added.
These rigorous drills aren’t new, but the stakes are higher now. As Tuna noted, "It's especially important during this time, because we have major events coming in the upcoming year. So we are doing a lot of targeted scenario-based training for our hospital emergency response team." The training not only sharpens technical skills but also strengthens collaboration among four Santa Clara County hospitals, building confidence for when real emergencies strike. Registered Nurse Mariann Vaught put it plainly: "We're really trying to be prepared just in case something happens. We have FIFA, the World Cup coming up, and that's very close to our hospital. We also have the Super Bowl next year, so we're trying to get a team together to make sure that we're prepared for anything."
For Vaught and her colleagues, the adrenaline of the ER is second nature. "We're ready. We thrive in chaos. I'm an ER nurse, so I want to be boots on the ground for these types of situations. And that's everybody here," she said. The drills will continue, with more scheduled through the end of 2025 and into 2026, ensuring that the county’s readiness doesn’t fade as the big events approach.
While local agencies prepare for potential emergencies, the federal government is gearing up for a different kind of challenge: the tidal wave of visa applications from international fans eager to cheer on their teams. On October 2, 2025, the U.S. State Department announced it would increase staffing at certain embassies and consulates to accommodate the expected surge. Hundreds of additional consular officers are slated to be dispatched to "designated countries" for visa interviews, though the precise locations and numbers remain up in the air. The reason? The final 48-team field for the World Cup has yet to be determined.
The department’s move aims to ensure that the process for obtaining U.S. visas remains smooth and efficient, even as demand skyrockets. Tickets for the tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, went on sale just a day earlier, sparking a flurry of excitement—and some concern. Recent years have seen the U.S. tighten its visa and migration policies, including enhanced scrutiny of applicants’ social media and public statements. The State Department, however, insists it "is prepared to meet the demand while maintaining rigorous vetting requirements."
For fans from countries participating in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, the process should remain relatively painless, with no interview required. But for supporters from non-program countries, the road to the World Cup will include an in-person interview and enhanced security screening. In roughly 80% of countries that have either qualified or may qualify for the tournament, visa interview appointments can be scheduled within two months or less, according to the department. The State Department also reassured travelers that visa and passport operations will remain open during the U.S. government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, urging fans to begin their applications as soon as possible.
As if security and logistics weren’t enough, the World Cup has also become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over the intersection of sports and politics. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested he might declare some host cities "not safe" and move games out of them, citing concerns over crime and local opposition to his administration’s policies. While he didn’t name any cities specifically, Trump’s remarks stirred up a storm of speculation and prompted a swift response from soccer’s governing body.
FIFA’s vice president, Victor Montagliani, addressed the issue head-on at a sports business conference in London. "It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions," Montagliani declared, emphasizing that the hosting plan—finalized in 2022—remains unchanged. The plan includes Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is set to host seven regular matches and a semifinal. With just eight months until the June 11, 2026, kickoff, the prospect of changing venues is both logistically and legally daunting. "With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than them and football will survive their regime and their government and their slogans," Montagliani added. "That’s the beauty of our game, is that it is bigger than any individual and bigger than any country."
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, meanwhile, focused on the positive, highlighting the massive economic impact the World Cup is expected to have in Atlanta. "The World Cup’s going to be huge," Kemp said. "The World Cup is going to be like having six or seven or eight Super Bowls when you have these different matches we’re going to have in the City of Atlanta."
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a regular visitor to the White House, has not commented publicly on the controversy. But one thing is clear: the 2026 World Cup, running through July 19, promises to be a historic event, both on and off the pitch.
From emergency drills in San Jose to embassies worldwide bracing for a flood of visa applications, the United States is mobilizing for a summer like no other. The excitement is building, and with careful planning and international cooperation, the stage is set for a World Cup that could redefine what it means to host the world.
