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Tougher U.S. border policies may create complications for Canada as a co-host of the FIFA World Cup. Here’s how it could impact travel, logistics, and the tournament experience.
TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION POLICY CREATES TENSIONS FOR FANS TRAVELING TO WATCH WORLD CUP GAMES IN U.S.
Donald Trump’s immigration policy creates tensions not just for teams and players, but also for fans hoping to travel across borders to watch FIFA World Cup matches in the U.S. and Canada.
In the same way, the FIFA World Cup 2026, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, will kick off on June 11 and run until July 19 next year.
As excitement builds for the expanded 48-team tournament, concerns are also rising over how tighter immigration rules might complicate travel for international fans.
However, Trump’s return to office in 2024 has led to a renewed crackdown on immigration policies.
This shift extends to major international events like the World Cup, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans across North America.
Despite these concerns, fans can still look forward to 104 matches spread across the three countries, with the U.S. hosting the critical knockout stages leading up to the grand final.
Check out our World Cup 2026 tickets guide for more information on catching the games in the US live.
TRAVEL BANS, RESTRICTIONS CAST SHADOW ON U.S. WELCOME FOR WORLD CUP FANS
The specter of travel bans and immigration restrictions is casting a shadow over the U.S.’s ability to welcome football fans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This concern gained momentum when President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act on January 29, 2025, which mandates the detention of immigrants charged with or convicted of certain crimes.
This move marked the beginning of a broader immigration crackdown under his administration.
As a result, Trump reported a significant drop in illegal border crossings since returning to office earlier this year.
To reinforce these efforts, he issued Executive Order 14159 on January 20, directing the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that all non-citizens comply with registration requirements under U.S. immigration law.
Meanwhile, take a look at FIFA’s World Cup 2026 Hospitality Packages guide if youre committed to stay in the US for the games.
‘IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS’ LOOM IN US WITH TRUMP POLICIES, WARNS U.S. COLLEGE PROFESSOR
As Trump’s immigration policies take shape, concerns are growing about their potential impact on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Consequently, a U.S. college professor has warned that “immigration problems” could escalate if these policies continue.
In particular, Victor Matheson, a sports economics professor at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, expressed concern for international football fans.
According to Matheson, travel bans targeting certain countries, aggressive immigration raids, and the threat of mass deportations are three major issues that could create anxiety and uncertainty among fans.
“This is all being driven by the United States. And we’re entirely the guilty party here,” Matheson said.
He added, “You could have significant immigration problems with fans and players going across borders.”
EXPERTS SAY FAN MOVEMENT IN 2026 WORLD CUP COULD BE ‘MORE POLITICAL’
Similarly, other professors and sports experts are weighing in on how the 2026 FIFA World Cup may take on a more political tone; Particularly when it comes to fan movement across borders.
On the other hand, Tim Elcombe, a professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, shared his perspective on the matter.
He pointed out that while the tournament was originally designed to symbolize unity among the three co-hosts, the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
“This World Cup could be even more political than the one in Qatar,” Elcombe stated, suggesting that immigration-related obstacles could overshadow the spirit of global celebration.
According to him, restrictive policies could affect the seamless movement of fans, casting doubt on North America’s ability to host an inclusive and accessible event.
CANADA URGED TO ASSURE FANS ABOUT CROSS-BORDER TRAVEL FOR WORLD CUP MATCHES
In comparison to the United States, Canada is seen as a more welcoming co-host for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
However, a Canadian fellow believes that the country must take proactive steps to support fans planning to travel to the U.S. during the tournament.
Likewise, MacIntosh Ross, a fellow at Saint Mary’s University, emphasized a need.
He urged Canadian officials to assure fans that cross-border travel will remain safe and manageable amid shifting U.S. immigration policies.
“Canadian organizers need to be clear about what they expect from the U.S.,” Ross said, stressing the importance of diplomatic coordination as the event nears.
Additionally, Toronto and Vancouver are set to host several group-stage matches.
These are expected to attract large crowds.
However, if Canada’s national team advances beyond the group stage, things would get complicated.
These fans may need to travel to the U.S. for the knockout rounds, including the final.
This would raise concerns over potential immigration hurdles.
TRUMP STILL HAS WAYS TO CHANGE TRAVEL NARRATIVE IF HE WANTS TO, SAYS ECONOMIST
What’s more, an expert suggests that Trump could still play a pivotal role in shaping the fan travel experience for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, if he chooses to act.
Similarly, economist Andrew Zimbalist outlined two possible scenarios.
However, he admitted uncertainty about Trump’s intentions regarding international fan movement across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.
Nonetheless, Zimbalist emphasized that Trump still holds the influence to reshape the narrative around immigration and cross-border travel during the tournament.
“I think probably Trump himself might not have the answers,” Zimbalist noted, “because he tends to respond very impetuously to changes in his environment.”
CANADIAN HERITAGE SEES OTTAWA UPSIDE AMID TENSE US IMMIGRATION POLICIES
Because of this, a spokesperson for Canadian Heritage offered a different perspective.
He viewed the tense U.S. immigration environment as a potential upside for Ottawa’s economy during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Thus, the spokesperson expects that stricter U.S. policies may discourage some fans from traveling south.
Instead, this would encourage more visitors to watch matches and explore Canada.
For this reason, Canada could welcome at least one million international visitors throughout the tournament.
This would boost local tourism and economic activity.
“Given the tri-national nature of the event, it is anticipated that international and domestic travelers will move back and forth between Canada and the United States,” the spokesperson said.
He added, “The focus will continue to be on the flow of movement, the safety of travelers, and the security of the borders.”
WORLD CUP COULD BOOST TRUMP’S ‘GOLD CARD’ PROGRAM PUSH
In addition to increasing international tourism in the U.S., the 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to attract numerous sponsors and affluent individuals.
This would create an opportunity for related initiatives.
Consequently, former President Trump is leveraging this momentum to promote his controversial “Gold Card” visa program.
While the program filters international visitors entering the U.S., the “Trump Gold Card” offers a pathway to U.S. citizenship for foreigners willing to invest USD5 million.
Similarly, this program is intended to replace the existing EB-5 immigrant investor visa.
This would streamline and expand investment opportunities.
Likewise, Trump is advocating to sell up to one million of these “Gold Cards.”
This would position the World Cup as a potential catalyst for its adoption.
‘GOLD CARD’ PROGRAM AIMS TO CUT U.S. NATIONAL DEBT, BOOST TAX REVENUE, AND CREATE JOBS
Subsequently, Trump defended his push for the “Gold Card” visa program.
Also, he highlighting its potential economic benefits.
He cited increased payments toward the U.S. national debt and additional tax revenues as key advantages.
Moreover, the former president claimed the program could generate trillions of dollars in revenue.
This would help stimulate economic growth and employment.
You might wonder: What does this have to do with the World Cup?
Similarly, with a growing number of business leaders investing in sports, especially football, Trump’s visa initiative could provide a streamlined path to U.S. citizenship for these investors.
This would allow them to expand their enterprises while supporting the sport’s growth.
In comparison, the “Gold Card” program may serve as a strategic gateway for wealthy international entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on the World Cup’s global spotlight.
FEARS OVER TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION POLICIES GROW ON SOCIAL MEDIA; FIFA REMAINS SILENT
Additionally, concerns about Trump’s immigration policies are spreading rapidly on social media.
This alarms football fans across North America.
While World Cup organizers may share these worries, they have yet to comment publicly.
In fact, Yahoo! News investigated rumors suggesting that FIFA might relocate some World Cup matches from the U.S. to Canada.
This is due to Washington’s stringent immigration policies threatening the tournament’s smooth execution.
For now, fans can only wait and see whether the Trump administration will take steps to ensure the event’s success, for the sake of football enthusiasts everywhere.
Visit our FIFA World Cup 2026 website for more football news and other updates.
