FiscalFusion

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will take center stage at Friday’s World Cup draw in Washington, rolling out the welcome mat for teams and fans from around the globe at a time when his administration is expanding restrictions on travel to the United States for people from 19 countries and he has hardened his rhetoric against immigrants. The administration is betting that its push to expedite visa processing for visitors and excitement about the matchups for next summer’s tournament — hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico — will outweigh concerns that Trump’s immigration messaging undercuts the World Cup’s theme of global unity. In the past week, Trump has said he wants to permanently pause immigration from poor countries and has singled out Afghans and Somalis for contempt. He is also overseeing the signing of a peace agreement between Rwanda and Congo and is expected to be honored by FIFA for peacemaking efforts during the draw. Critics, including Sen.

Chris Van Hollen, say Trump represents the opposite of what the World Cup stands for, while Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA task force, dismissed concerns about Trump’s rhetoric, calling him a blunt-speaking New Yorker. The administration is preparing to expand a travel ban that bars entry to citizens from 12 countries and imposes heightened restrictions on visitors from seven others, affecting two World Cup qualifiers — Iran and Haiti. While athletes, coaches and essential support personnel are exempt, fans from banned nations cannot enter the U.S. Iran has said it will boycott the draw after visas were denied to key officials, although its coach will attend. The State Department said it supports the World Cup while upholding national security.

Giuliani emphasized that visa decisions are based on security and noted that some Iranian delegation members were approved while others were not, despite earlier assurances from FIFA President Gianni Infantino that visas would not be an issue. The White House is promoting efforts to reduce visa wait times for tournament attendees, with more than 400 additional consular officers deployed worldwide and a new “FIFA Pass” system for expedited visa appointments. Rep. Darin LaHood said the administration is working to make the event accessible and that sports transcend politics. Yet concerns persist as the administration’s immigration crackdown looms over preparations.

During the Club World Cup this summer, social media warnings about immigration agents at matches alarmed organizers, though Giuliani said security would be routine. He also noted that Trump does not rule out any measure that enhances safety, raising questions about potential immigration enforcement at World Cup events. Fans from Haiti, which qualified for the first time in 50 years, are already grappling with the reality that they likely will not be allowed to attend. Rich André of the American Immigration Council said Haitians are eager to support their team but will probably be unable to enter the U.S., adding that the tournament cannot fully succeed without the presence of fans..