World Cup
Trump invites global fans to World Cup and Olympics as US tightens visa policies
- Summary
- Trump says he hopes ‘countless’ people will attend sport events
- Visa applicants face longer waits and fees
- Travel to US has declined this year
U.S. President Donald Trump told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that he hopes “countless people from all over the globe” will attend the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics hosted by the United States.
Overseas travel to the U.S. fell 2.9% year-on-year in August to about 3.5 million visitors, according to preliminary U.S. government data. It was the sixth month this year that travel declined from a year ago, bucking the global tourism trend and defying expectations that in 2025 annual inbound visitors would finally surpass the pre-pandemic level of 79.4 million.
In a wide-ranging speech, Trump said next year the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence. “We will also be proudly hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and shortly thereafter, the 2028 Olympics,” he said.
“It’s going to be very exciting. I hope you all come. I hope that countless people from all over the globe will take part.”
More than 1.5 million ticket applications from fans in 210 countries were received by FIFA for the World Cup within 24 hours of the presale draw, the governing body of world soccer said earlier this month. The 48-team tournament will be hosted by Mexico, Canada and the U.S. and will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities.
But a U.S. trip may be expensive and complicated for many.
Visitors from non-visa waiver countries face a $250 “visa integrity fee,” on top of the existing fee, with travelers already navigating long average visa wait times. Such visitors face an average 169 days for a B-1/B-2 tourism or business visa interview, according to data from the U.S. State Department.
That will hit fans from countries that traditionally send a large contingent to the World Cup, including Mexico, Argentina and Brazil.
Global ticket demand for the tournament came primarily from the three host countries, followed by Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil, according to FIFA.
Tourists from visa-waiver countries – mostly in Europe – will not need to pay the new fee, but industry experts say some are being put off U.S. vacations by fears of being stopped at the border after a number of widely publicized cases.
The White House is also looking to tighten the duration of visas for students, cultural exchange visitors and members of the media, according to a proposed government regulation issued in August.
The 2028 Summer Olympics is set to be held in Los Angeles, California, in July 2028.
-Reuters
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
The dominance of South Africa playing nearly all their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches on home soil has been disrupted, following a dramatic announcement by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA).
ZIFA confirmed that their upcoming “home” clash against Bafana Bafana will no longer be staged in South Africa but in neighbouring Botswana.
The match is now scheduled for October 10, 2025, at the 26,000-capacity Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown.
Until now, the trend had favoured South Africa, with both Zimbabwe and Lesotho earlier adopting South African venues for their home fixtures, effectively giving Bafana Bafana a string of “home” games since matchday seven. Their last true away match was back in March against Benin Republic in Abidjan.
For Nigeria and other Group C contenders, Zimbabwe’s decision comes as a relief, as it reduces the built-in advantage for South Africa, who currently sit top of the group. While Zimbabwe’s qualification hopes are slim, the fixture could prove crucial for South Africa’s campaign.
The Francistown stadium, already tested on the international stage after hosting Namibia during their qualifiers, has been deemed fit to stage matches of this calibre.
With Zimbabwe’s move, only Lesotho — Nigeria’s next opponents — still play their home matches in South Africa.
Analysts say this change could help restore a level playing field in Group C as the battle for the single automatic World Cup ticket intensifies.
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Luca Zidane, son of France’s World Cup-winning playmaker Zinedine, has switched international allegiance to Algeria, putting the goalkeeper in line to follow in his father’s footsteps and play at the World Cup.
Zidane’s switch of allegiance after playing for France at junior level was approved by soccer’s world governing body FIFA on Friday and posted on their Change of Association Platform.
Zidane plays for Spanish second-division outfit Granada and his switch of allegiance is an indication the Algerians are seeking to add more options to their goalkeeping department.
Algeria have used four keepers over the last year of competitive matches, with Alexis Guendouz of Mouloudia Alger the first choice. There have also been appearances for Oussama Benbot, who is also home-based; Anthony Mandrea, who competes in the French third division and Alexandre Oukidja, who plays in the Serbian league.
Zidane, 27, is the second of four brothers, all of whom came through the Real Madrid academy.
He played two matches for Real Madrid and also has La Liga experience at Rayo Vallecano but over the past four seasons competed in the Spanish second division at Eibar and now Granada.
Zidane won caps for France at several junior levels, including under-20, necessitating a formal change of allegiance to be available for Algeria.
He qualifies for the North African country through his father, whose parents hailed from the Kabylie region of Algeria.
Algeria are expected to secure a place at the 2026 finals in North America in their qualifier against Somalia next month.
Zinedine Zidane won the World Cup with France in 1998, starring in their home success, but was sent off in the 2006 final in Germany, where they lost to Italy.
-Reuters
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World Cup
“We’re not bothered”, SAFA Blasts Over FIFA’s Probe of Mokoena’s Eligibility in Lesotho Match
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has confirmed it is preparing a formal response to FIFA after football’s world governing body launched an investigation into the eligibility of midfielder Teboho Mokoena in Bafana Bafana’s recent World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.
SAFA Chief Executive Officer, Lydia Monyepao, revealed on Thursday that the association had received official communication from FIFA on the matter.
“We have received communication from FIFA about the investigation they have launched in terms of the Lesotho match that Teboho Mokoena was fielded; we received it yesterday,” Monyepao said.
According to her, SAFA is compiling the necessary documents and explanations for the FIFA Disciplinary Committee as required. However, she played down concerns that the case could derail Bafana Bafana’s World Cup qualification campaign.
“Look, we’re not really worried about that. I think our focus right now is to ensure Bafana Bafana gets maximum points come October, because whatever happens, whether there is docking of points or whatever, if we get six points come October, nothing else matters,” the former Banyana Banyana player remarked.
South Africa are currently competing for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada, and Monyepao insisted that on-field results remain the ultimate priority.
“It’s all about Bafana Bafana getting to the World Cup in 2026,” she added.
The outcome of FIFA’s disciplinary review is expected to determine whether South Africa will retain the points gained from the disputed fixture or face sanctions that could affect their qualification standing.
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