Provisions to ensure timely processing of visas and passports associated with the upcoming World Cup
Mark Alford will ensure timely processing of visas and passports for World Cup travel.
Occurrences
Kansas City has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to host the world during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. We have been pushing for this funding to be released for some time, and earlier this week I led a letter urging DHS to move forward so our city can continue preparing the strong security operations this event requires.
Evidence
The Trump administration announced the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System, or FIFA PASS, to give World Cup ticket holders priority access to U.S. visa interviews beginning in early 2026. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a ticket does not guarantee visa approval and that applicants still go through the same vetting process.
AP reported that ticket buyers through FIFA would use a FIFA portal to have visa applications and interviews prioritized at the State Department; Rubio said more than 400 additional consular officers were deployed and about 80 percent of the globe could get a U.S. visa appointment within 60 days.
The State Department listed current passport processing times as 4-6 weeks for routine processing, 2-3 weeks for expedited processing, and urgent travel requiring an appointment at a passport agency with proof of international travel within 14 calendar days.
The executive order established the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026, included the Secretary of State among members, and directed agencies to coordinate planning, organization, and execution of the events surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The proclamation fully restricted entry for nationals of 12 countries and partially restricted entry for nationals of 7 countries, while exempting athletes, team members, coaches, necessary support roles, and immediate relatives traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting events.
Alford led a letter with Rep. Derek Schmidt urging DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to release World Cup security funding through FEMA. The letter said Congress provided $625 million for 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities and urged DHS to release grants quickly so host cities could complete preparations.
Alford announced that DHS began releasing federal security funding for 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities, including Kansas City, after a Republican push led by Alford earlier that week. The release said the funding was for security planning, personnel, equipment, and law-enforcement coordination.
Assessments
Federal action during Alford's current term did address the promise in part: the State Department announced priority visa interview scheduling for World Cup ticket holders, added consular capacity, and passport processing times were reported as generally timely. But the visa system expedites appointments rather than guaranteeing visa issuance, travel restrictions still limit some ordinary fans, and the evidence does not show Alford directly wrote, sponsored, or materially advanced the visa or passport processing measures. His documented World Cup work concerned security funding, not the specific visa/passport promise. Under the federal candidate-credit rule, this supports partial credit rather than full delivery.