The US will tighten border controls ahead of the 2026 World Cup: "Every visa will be thoroughly reviewed."

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Friday that visa applications from tourists interested in traveling to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, which Mexico and Canada are also co-hosts, will be "thoroughly" reviewed .

"We have an established process that we will implement for visa approval. Everyone will be thoroughly vetted, but they will be welcomed into this country ," Noem said from the Oval Office alongside U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

"I hope that people around the world know that the United States is excited to bring their families here to enjoy this event ," he added.

Minutes earlier, Trump himself had stated that some countries would have a "very easy" time entering, while for citizens of other countries it would be "a little more difficult."

The statement came during an event in which Trump announced that the draw to determine the World Cup groups will be held on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

The tournament, in which the Argentine national team will defend the title won in Qatar, will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The final will be held at MetLife Stadium outside New York City.

However, the competition comes at a time of heightened tension in the United States regarding immigration policy, where undocumented migrants are detained daily in mass raids for deportation to other countries.

The U.S. government has also revoked temporary residence permits for citizens of several nationalities, and on Thursday announced that it is checking more than 55 million people with valid visas for potential violations that could result in the revocation of documents and deportation from the United States.

This has raised questions about the potential impact of these measures on foreigners who want to travel to the event in the United States, and about the attendance of immigrants living in the country, given the fear that they might be arrested by immigration authorities if they go to the stadiums .

Last June, FIFA downplayed the impact of the United States' immigration policy on its tournaments during the Club World Cup, which also took place in the country.