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≡ MEGA-EVENT PREPARATIONS ≡
“There are multiple consulates around the world, Colombia is the best example, where wait times exceed 500 days to get an interview for a visa. There are similar wait times in India; in years past, we had wait times like that in Brazil, where they have been successful recently in bringing those wait times down.”
That’s U.S. Travel Association President Geoff Freeman, speaking at a Tuesday morning hearing of the House Committee on Homeland Security’s sub-committee on Transportation and Maritime Security on preparations for major events coming to the U.S., such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Freeman was blunt:
“I think it’s critical as the [White House] World Cup Task Force gets up and running, first we acknowledge that we’re already behind the eight-ball. The World Cup starts in about 18 months; other countries are already planning for the 2030 World Cup, that planning is already ahead of where we are. …
“I have all the faith in the world in the local destinations that are hosting the World Cup. They’re already coordinating, they’re going to do a great job. The question really becomes, in terms of getting people to the games, moving about the U.S. and moving into the United States.
“I think for the domestic traveler, we’re going to see concerns when it comes to moving people through the airports, the demand we’re going to see is basically a Thanksgiving every day for about the 45 days of the World Cup. We all know what it’s like traveling on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving; that’s what we can expect. It begs the question, what can we do to be more efficient in that period, and this Task Force is critical about aligning the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Transportation and other relevant agencies to ensure we can meet that demand.
“For the foreign travelers coming in, the truth is we’re already too late for some of them. I mentioned the wait times for Colombia to get a visa; if they don’t have a visa now for the World Cup in ‘26, their window is closed. That’s shame on us, right? That’s opportunity missed for the United States, and we’ve got to identify what are the other markets where that window is already closing and how do we process visas quickly in those markets so we can help those travelers get here.”
In the case of Colombia, its team is still in the qualifying phase in South America and is not yet sure of making it to the 2026 World Cup final tournament, so what chance will its fans have under the current U.S. visa wait times?
Freeman made the further point:
“For the 45% of our travelers who are required to get a visa, visa access is a bigger concern than the cost of travel. I think that tells us everything we need to know.”
He also spoke to the needs for better, quicker and more efficient customs services for travelers coming into the U.S.
Freeman praised the improvements on identify verification via biometrics now at airports, but said the issues now are “the personal screening, there’s the baggage screening,” but with better use of technologies already available:
“Within the next five years, we can give every American traveler the confidence they can keep their water in their bottle, their belt on their pants, the laptop in their bags.”
Jon Gruen, the head of Fortem Technologies, involved in drone security, told the sub-committee:
“Technology needs to be procured and deployed now. So, we recommend 12 months out from events, to really get the technology on the ground, get the personnel trained and run through different scenarios to mitigate threats. … We are behind the power curve on this.”
Asked if he believed the U.S. was ready to protect against drone threats to the upcoming major events, he replied, “not currently.” He pointed to the obvious – an attack on a stadium – but also:
“With all these folks that are trying to arrive if you have a drone that goes and parks itself on the runway, the entire operation is going to shut down. It doesn’t even have to explode. It can just sit there and you’ve already disrupted air travel to a level we have not seen, and are not prepared for.”
Sub-committee Chair Carlos Gimenez (R-Florida) said he is working on a bill to form a Federal Task Force for major events across the next four years, including the FIFA World Cup, 2028 Olympic Games and the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S., in 2026.
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