Will the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics be affected? The Trump administration in the United States has ordered an indefinite suspension of visas for 75 countries, including "Thailand."
On 15 Jan 2026 GMT+7, the U.S. announced plans to suspend processing of immigrant visa applications from 75 countries, including Thailand, aiming to block immigrants from those countries from accessing American public welfare at an unacceptable rate. This expands the Trump administration's immigration crackdown measures.
The suspension will begin on 21 January and will continue indefinitely until authorities reevaluate the visa application process.
This suspension applies to immigrant visas—permanent resident visas such as green cards and work visas—but does not include temporary visas (Nonimmigrant Visas) for those wishing to stay in the U.S. temporarily for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work, or study.
Therefore, there is no impact on those planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted jointly by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026, nor on the 2028 Olympics.
The 26th FIFA World Cup will feature a total of 104 matches, with 48 teams competing across 16 host cities in three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.