Washington: Waiting Time for U.S. Visas for Moroccans Reduced from 10 Months to 2 Months Ahead of the 2026 World Cup
Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House team responsible for organizing the World Cup, announced yesterday in Washington that the waiting time for U.S. visa appointments in Morocco has decreased from 10 months to just 2 months in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
During a press conference ahead of the tournament’s draw scheduled for Friday in the U.S. capital, the American official stated that this reduction represents an 80% decrease compared to the waiting times recorded in November 2024 for Moroccans wishing to travel to the United States.
Giuliani noted that Morocco will be among the countries jointly hosting the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal and Spain, expressing satisfaction with the visa wait time reduction, which will benefit national team supporters eager to attend the matches next summer.
The American official confirmed that this measure is part of a system that prioritizes visa appointments for holders of tickets to the 2026 World Cup (FIFA Pass), recently announced by President Donald Trump.
He also highlighted that the U.S. Department of State has employed over 450 additional staff to facilitate and expedite visa issuance, particularly for citizens of the countries eligible for the 2026 World Cup, adding around 300,000 extra visa appointment slots, with expectations of reaching millions of appointments by early next year.
Giuliani concluded by predicting that the United States will welcome between 5 and 7 million visitors during the tournament scheduled from June 11 to July 19, 2026, which will take place across the territories of the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
