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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the establishment of the White House Task Force World Cup 2026 Commission, an advisory body designed to support preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Commission is being created through the DHS Office of Partnership and Engagement, according to a notice filed in the Federal Register.
Newsweek has contacted DHS for comment via email.
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Why It Matters
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest in the tournament’s history, expanding to 48 teams and taking place across the United States, Mexico and Canada. It marks the first time the event will be hosted by three nations and the first time the U.S. has hosted since 1994. Matches will be held in 16 cities, including New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Toronto, Mexico City and Vancouver, bringing the tournament to some of the largest sports markets in North America.
What To Know
The Commission will include representatives from the private sector who will provide information, advice, and recommendations to the Executive Director of the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026. Its guidance is intended to be specific, actionable, timely, strategic and targeted, supporting the Task Force’s coordination with executive departments, agencies, and private-sector partners.
DHS said the Commission’s work will help showcase U.S. hospitality, promote economic growth, support public safety and security, and encourage tourism around the World Cup events. The Department will provide funding and administrative support for the Commission.
Organizers and local officials have projected that the event will draw millions of international visitors and deliver significant economic benefits to host regions through spending on travel, hospitality, and tourism. Cities have been preparing major infrastructure, security and transportation plans to handle the influx of fans. With the expanded format, longer schedule and global profile of the event, the 2026 World Cup is expected to be one of the most complex sporting operations ever held in the United States.
On November 17, President Donald Trump held a White House meeting with the administration’s FIFA task force, where he announced a new “FIFA PASS” system intended to expedite visa interview scheduling for ticketholders attending the 2026 World Cup.
The program, formally called the FIFA Prioritized Appointments Scheduling System (PASS), is designed to help international visitors move through the visa process more efficiently while the administration maintains its existing immigration policies.
The State Department is preparing for a surge in visa applications ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expected to draw more than six million fans and generate $30.5 billion in economic output, including $17.2 billion for the U.S. GDP. To meet demand, the department plans to deploy hundreds of consular officers to embassies in countries with qualified or likely World Cup teams. However, some of those countries already face visa wait times of several months, and fans will undergo stricter screening under the Trump administration’s immigration policies, including social media checks and expanded visa restrictions.
What People Are Saying
Michael J. Miron, Committee Management Officer at DHS, wrote in a filing: The Commission is housed in the Department of Homeland Security, which shall provide funding and administrative support for the Commission."
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in the Oval Office: “This will be the greatest and most inclusive FIFA World Cup in history — and the FIFA PASS service is a very concrete example of that.”
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrote in a post on X: "We want EVERY American and FIFA fan visiting the U.S. on a tourist visa to enjoy this historic event and travel home safely in a timely manner."
What Happens Next
The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on 11 June 2026.
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