The United States is hosting the FIFA World Cup this summer along with Mexico and Canada. They have been planning extensively for the last few years, but one official believes it is just a dress rehearsal for another big event.
United States Using the FIFA World Cup To Prepare for 2028 Olympics
The World Cup is being hosted this year, and more than a million fans are expected to visit the country. The logistics are off the charts, and organizers will need many things to work smoothly to ensure fans are in and out without issues.
Gene Sykes was elected chairman of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee in 2022 and is leading the charge for the 2028 Olympics. He believes the World Cup will give them a good idea about the visa process for athletes and fans alike.
“We have worked very closely with the (US) State Department to design a visa system to allow athletes… to have access to a visa system designed especially for them,” he said (per Reuters). “The FIFA World Cup will also be happening this summer, so this entire process of welcoming visitors to the United States… is getting something of a trial run.”
The 48-team tournament this summer, taking place in June and July, is a much smaller event than the Olympics. Fans from more than 200 nations and 10,000 athletes are expected to be in the nation within 17 days.
The news comes just days after several IOC members, including International Equestrian Federation chief Ingmar De Vos, raised concerns about visas for athletes, their families, officials accompanying them, the media, and, mainly, the fans. The concerns arose after US President Donald Trump banned citizens of several countries from entering the nation.
The ban, which took effect Jan. 1, applies to 75 nationalities. There are no exceptions for fans and media planning to attend the World Cup and other sporting events, but athletes competing in the tournament, the Olympics and the Paralympics would be free to enter.
LA28 organizers are looking to create a dedicated visa platform for athletes, staff and officials, and are working with U.S. federal agencies. They plan to use the FIFA World Cup as a real-world example to improve and streamline their process.
During the session, IOC members also reportedly voiced worries about the cost of tickets for LA28, pointing out they were much steeper than those for Paris 2024. According to Reuters, LA Games chief Casey Wasserman told the IOC session that with the event privately financed, organizers depend largely on sponsorships and ticket revenue, with average prices about 17% higher than Paris.
