Washington, Dec 3 (EFE). - The government of U.S. President Donald Trump does not rule out carrying out raids or detaining immigrants during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the country will host, the head of the White House working group for the event, Andrew Giuliani, said today.
"I must insist that President Trump will not rule out anything that makes this country safer," Giuliani stated during a press conference in Washington ahead of the World Cup group draw, which takes place this Friday in the U.S. capital.
"What we will not tolerate are troublemakers who threaten security," the former golfer emphasized, asserting that the sporting event will demonstrate that "security and hospitality can go hand in hand."
The World Cup, scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 next year and co-hosted by Canada and Mexico, comes at a time marked by Donald Trump's presidency and the concern raised by his tough immigration policies.
When asked about the possibility of visas being denied to people planning to visit the U.S., Giuliani stressed that for the U.S. executive branch, "every decision on a visa is a decision on national security."
Furthermore, the White House's top representative for the FIFA World Cup recalled what Trump and FIFA recently announced: anyone with a ticket to a match is guaranteed an appointment with immigration authorities to try to obtain a visa.
Giuliani, the son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, also wanted to highlight that visa processing times in consular sections of participating countries like Argentina, Ecuador, or Brazil have been reduced to under two months, and that European countries or Japan have visa exemption.
Regarding two participating World Cup countries on the list of 19 nations whose citizens are barred from traveling to the U.S. by order of the Trump government—Haiti and Iran—Giuliani noted that "part" of the delegations from both teams have been granted exemptions to be allowed entry into the United States.
For Haitian and Iranian fans wishing to attend as spectators, Giuliani referred the matter to the Department of State, which is responsible for granting visas.
