The whole world is watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This year the matches are being played in three countries: Canada, Mexico and the United States of America. As the United States hosts many of the World Cup matches, many people wonder what type of visa allows players, coaches, and team personnel to enter the U.S. and participate in tournament activities.
One of the most common U.S. nonimmigrant visa categories is the B-1/B-2 visitor visa. Usually this nonimmigrant visa is issued as a dual B-1/B-2 visa. When the visitor enters the U.S., they will be given a designation based on the purpose of their visit. A B-1 visa status designation is generally used for temporary business-related activities, while the B-2 visa status designation is intended for non-business purposes, such as tourism, visiting family members, or medical treatment. However, obtaining a visitor visa requires more than simply planning a trip to the United States. Under U.S. immigration law, applicants must demonstrate that their stay will be temporary, that they maintain a residence abroad, and that they intend to return home after their visit.
B-1/B-2 visa applicants must show that they are entering the United States for a temporary period of time and only for legitimate business or recreational activities. If these requirements are not met, the application may be refused the visa under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which means the interviewing consular officer, in his or her independent subjective discretion, was not convinced that they met the standard for qualification for the visa. Moreover, issuance of a B-1/B-2 visa is not a guarantee that the applicant will be admitted into the United States. Visitors face a similar test at the port of entry by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection when they arrive at the border and request entry.
For individuals participating in international sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup, the appropriate visa category may vary depending on the individual’s role and planned activities in the United States. While some participants may qualify for visitor status and be allowed to enter on a B-1/B-2 visa, others may require a different nonimmigrant visa classification.
Whether applying for a B-1/B-2 visa or another temporary visa category, applicants should be prepared to demonstrate that their travel is temporary, legitimate, and consistent with the purpose of the visa being requested.
National team players may be eligible for admission in B-1 status to participate in World Cup matches provided they do not receive salary, wages, or other compensation from a U.S. source, except for permissible prize money. To qualify, the athlete’s principal place of business and primary source of income must remain outside the United States. In the case of team-based sports, the foreign team must generally be a member of an international sports league, or the sporting activities must otherwise possess a clear international dimension.
The B-1 visa may likewise be available to essential support personnel accompanying team players, professional athletes or foreign-based sports teams. Such personnel may include coaches, trainers, medical professionals, engineers, technicians, mechanics, strategists, and performance analysts, among others. To qualify, these individuals must customarily perform the same or substantially similar services abroad, be employed by or provide services to an athlete or team principally based outside the United States, and receive compensation that accrues from foreign sources.
If you have questions about U.S. visas or immigration, please contact us at info@enterlinepartners.com.
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