LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / February 20, 2026 / The United States has introduced a series of stricter immigration and border control measures following the start of President Donald Trump's second term. Since the Republican leader's return to the White House, visa policies have tightened, with even short-term and tourism-related travel facing increased scrutiny.

The new stricter measures now coincide with preparations to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, an event expected to drive one of the largest surges in international travel the US has faced outside crisis periods.

According to the latest Investment Migration Watch 2026 by CS Global Partners, a London-based government advisory firm, large-scale global events increasingly demonstrate how immigration policies and border security systems function during periods of peak demand.

"As demonstrated by upcoming events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup spanning Mexico, the United States, and Canada, global attention increasingly focuses on how borders, access, and movement are managed in practice," the report states.

It is estimated that more than a million international visitors will travel to the United States during the tournament, creating a concentrated surge at airports, land crossings, and ports of entry over a short period.

That influx is likely to place additional pressure on visa processing systems, airline operations, customs facilities, and immigration checkpoints, further elevating the visibility of the stricter entry policies now in place.

The study places US policy within a broader international tightening of migration regimes, driven by geopolitical instability, domestic political pressures, and rising regulatory expectations.

What Has Changed in the US Entry Policy

Recent US actions have focused on several broad categories of restriction rather than isolated measures. These include suspensions of entry for nationals from designated countries, limits on visa issuance for selected jurisdictions, and enhanced vetting requirements across both immigrant and non-immigrant pathways.

Visitor travel has also come under sharper review. Applications for B1 and B2 visas are being examined more closely, with consular officers applying stricter standards around intent of travel, documentation, and ties to home countries.

In parallel, interview-waiver programmes have been narrowed, pushing more applicants into face-to-face assessments and lengthening processing times at some overseas posts.

Additional screening procedures, including expanded background and digital checks, have also become more common, reinforcing Washington's emphasis on security-first adjudication.

These measures are expected to attract heightened attention during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when extraordinary volumes of international travel will pass through the same visa and inspection systems now operating under tighter rules.

Why FIFA Brings These Policies Into Focus

The FIFA 2026 will compress travel demand into fixed windows across dozens of match days and host cities.

Teams, referees, broadcast crews, sponsors, and tournament staff will require expedited and coordinated processing, while hundreds of thousands of supporters will depend on ordinary visitor visas or visa-waiver channels.

That dual system creates a delicate operational balance. Authorities must facilitate fast-moving official delegations while maintaining the same controls applied to the general travelling public, all under intense international visibility.

For airlines, hotels, host cities, and event organisers, any disruption in visa issuance or port-of-entry processing could carry financial consequences.

Implications for the Investment-Migration Sector

For advisers and investors who monitor global mobility regimes, the World Cup is emerging as a practical test case rather than a symbolic moment.

The Investment Migration Watch notes that wealth-management and residency strategies are increasingly shaped by perceptions of predictability, regulatory stability, and ease of lawful movement.

"The world feels more uncertain in 2026 than in recent memory, and secure jurisdictions with strong governance frameworks are no longer simply desirable; they've become strategic necessities," the report observed.

How the US executes its border policies during FIFA, while maintaining recent restrictions, will therefore be closely analysed by governments, migration consultants, and high-net-worth families assessing future travel and relocation options.

A High-Profile Operational Test

The report argues that international tournaments now function as real-world demonstrations of immigration systems under pressure. Investors are seeking clearer guidance from major economies on the long-term direction of mobility policy, while governments compete for capital, talent, and corporate relocations.

As preparations accelerate toward kickoff, attention will extend beyond stadium construction and transport networks to consulates, interview queues, airport inspection halls, and visa adjudication desks.

For the United States, FIFA 2026 will provide a rare operational showcase, revealing whether a system shaped by travel bans, visa pauses, and enhanced screening can scale up smoothly for a global audience while preserving the security standards that now define its borders.

Media Details:

Company Name: CS Global Partners
Phone: +44 20 7318 4343
Email: pr@csglobalpartners.com

SOURCE: CS Global Partners