World Cup
Many fans risk missing 2026 World Cup as Visa window for visitors is closing
The window to obtain a first-time U.S. visitor visa for the FIFA World Cup in 2026 is closing for some soccer fans, the U.S. Travel Association said at a press event this week, though the federal government says travelers still have time.
Visitor visa processing times have risen to 600 days for travelers in some countries, a big hurdle for fans who want to support one of the yet-to-be-determined 48 teams set to compete in the globally watched sporting event.
“If you don’t have your visa today, you’re not getting here for a World Cup that’s taking place in 2026,” Geoff Freeman, president and chief executive of the non-profit U.S. Travel Association told a group of reporters.
The U.S. State Department says the situation is not that dire, as it regularly assesses capacity and wait times in countries likely to play in the tournament, scheduled from June to July 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“While we encourage prospective FIFA World Cup visitors who will need U.S. visas to apply now, there is still plenty of time for fans to apply for their visas,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement.
Travelers are waiting on average 260 days for an appointment to interview for a first-time visitor visa, Freeman said. Average wait times in Colombia are currently about 670 days, according to the association, which would mean those visitors would miss the tournament.
In Mexico, the average wait is 458 days, and travelers from India are facing waits of up to 404 days for an interview.
More than 30 million travelers hold valid U.S. tourist visas and therefore would not have a problem if they wanted to attend the event, the State Department said.
FIFA is working with the Canadian, Mexican and U.S. governments to ensure that those who need visas can get them, a spokesperson said.
-Reuters
Brazil forward Vinicius Jr will miss their World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru due to injury, the Brazilian FA (CBF) said on Sunday, making him the fourth player to be replaced in the squad.
Vinicius suffered a neck injury during Real Madrid’s 2-0 home win against Villarreal on Saturday, the club said.
Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira has been called up to replace him, the CBF said in a statement.
Vinicius’ injury adds to the woes of coach Dorival Jr as Brazil, fifth in CONMEBOL’s World Cup qualifying standings with 10 points after eight matches, face Chile in Santiago on Oct. 10 before hosting Peru in Brasilia five days later.
The top six of the 10 teams qualify directly for the World Cup.
Dorival had already been forced to call up Paris Saint-Germain’s Lucas Beraldo, Palmeiras’ Weverton and Botafogo’s Alex Telles to replace Juventus’ Bremer, Liverpool’s Alisson and Atletico Mineiro’s Guilherme Arana, all injured.
-Reuters
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Congress rose from its Annual General Meeting in Asaba on Friday and assured the Nigerian Government of its commitment to ensure that the Super Eagles qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The Nigerian team has had a poor head start in the series and has not won any of the four matches. There are six more matches to be played.
Only one of the the six teams will pick an automatic ticket even as Nigeria sat dangerously fifth in Group C. Their next match is away to group leaders, Rwanda on 17 March next year.
Another drop of points portends deep dangers as the Super Eagles have zero option other than to win all the remaining six matches. Two of those matches are potentially risky. These are the away duels with South Africa on 7 September and Lesotho on 5 October next year.
Both matches will be played in South Africa which also hosts Lesotho home games apart from the fact that Lesotho is geographically completely encircled by South Africa.
The quest to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is relatively easier as the Super Eagles are in the lead of the quartet that includes Benin Republic, Rwanda and Libya.
Two teams will qualify. Victory over Libya in the back-to-back clashes holding in the next few days will likely qualify Nigeria for Morocco 2025.
Nigeria’s World Cup Qualifying Fixtures
- 17 March 2025 – Rwanda v Nigeria
- 24 March 2025- Nigeria v Zimbabwe
- 1 Sept. 2025 – Nigeria v Rwanda
- 7 Sept. 2025 – South Africa v Nigeria
- 5 Oct. 2025 – Lesotho v Nigeria
- 12 Oct. 2025 – Nigeria v Benin Republic
Nigeria’s AFCON Cup Qualifying Fixtures
- 10 Oct. 2024 – Nigeria v Libya
- 15 Oct, 2024 – Libya v Nigeria
- 11 Nov. 2024 – Benin Republic v Nigeria
- 19 Nov. 2024 – Nigeria v Rwanda
Argentina have been boosted by the return of captain Lionel Messi for their CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia, the country’s football association said on Wednesday, after the 37-year-old recovered from an ankle injury.
Messi, who plays for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami, was left out of Argentina’s squad for their World Cup Qualifiers against Chile and Colombia in August due to the injury which he sustained during the Copa America final.
Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 to win a record 16th Copa America title.
ARGENTINA SQUAD:
Goalkeepers – Geronimo Rulli, Walter Benitez, Juan Musso.
Defenders – Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Leonardo Balerdi, Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Tagliafico.
Midfielders – Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Giovani Lo Celso, Thiago Almada, Guido Rodriguez, Nico Paz.
Forwards – Nicolas Gonzalez, Lautaro Martinez, Alejandro Garnacho, Julian Alvarez, Valentin Carboni, Valentin Carboni, Paulo Dybala and Lionel Messi.
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