Brazilian fans face the risk of missing out on the World Cup

Brazilian fans wishing to travel to the United States to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup may face increasing difficulties in obtaining entry visas, amid signs of tightening restrictions by US authorities and rising diplomatic tensions between Washington and Brasilia. The highly anticipated World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with a record 48 teams participating for the first time in World Cup history. The United States, Canada, and Mexico will co-host the event, which represents a major sporting and political event next year. As participating teams prepare for the tournament, signs of a potential entry crisis are emerging for fans, especially Brazilians, following indications of the adoption of a new, stricter visa rule, including restrictions on the length of stay and the number of days allowed for visitors, including political officials. This comes after reports that members of the Brazilian Senate were subjected to unusually strict procedures during their recent visit to the United States, raising concerns about the introduction of a more restrictive visa policy on a broader scale, potentially affecting fans during the World Cup. Although players, coaches, and participants in major sporting events such as the World Cup will be exempt from these rules, fans remain the most affected, especially with hints of an official move to impose restrictions targeting citizens of specific countries, including Brazil. Meanwhile, the administration of US President Donald Trump continues to take strict trade measures against Brazil, raising tariffs on Brazilian goods imported to the United States from 10 to 50 percent in recent months, exacerbating tensions between the two countries. In the absence of an official comment from FIFA on these developments, the situation remains uncertain, with Brazilian fans and travel and tourism departments anxious to see whether these measures will actually be implemented during the tournament, or whether pressure from sports federations may lead to a temporary easing of restrictions. As the countdown to the world's biggest football event approaches, calls are growing to separate politics and sports, especially as the World Cup represents an opportunity to bring people together, not to deepen divisions.