The first 2026 FIFA World Cup match in the U.S. — to take place in Los Angeles County — may be more than 12 months out, but some members of Congress are concerned that time is running out to approve visas for all of the millions of athletes and tourists planning to travel to the United States.

Failure to process all visa requests on time would result in a hit to the United States’ reputation, said the 55 concerned House members in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In the letter, they raised issues over backlogs in visa applications and recommended changes to expedite the processing of such requests.

The letter, dated Wednesday, May 21, was co-led by two Southern California House members: Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Los Angeles, and Young Kim, R-Anaheim Hills. It was signed by members of Congress from both red and blue states, including 10 from L.A. and Orange counties, as well as the Inland Empire.

“The success of these games hinges on the State Department’s ability to efficiently process the visa applications of spectators, athletes and media,” including having enough visa appointment availability and waiving certain interviews where appropriate, the letter said.

“Disruptive visa backlogs that prevent athletes from participating or fans from attending could damage our global image for generations,” the letter went on to say.

Lawmakers said the World Cup could attract millions of visitors to the U.S. and result in approximately $3.75 billion in economic revenue. Similarly, the Olympics in 2028 could bring up to 15 million travelers to the U.S. and generate about $18 billion in economic impact.

“Between FIFA 2026 and LA28 Olympics, Southern California will be on full display for millions of visitors and billions more people on television screens around the world. Failure to meet the moment for these historic events that can bring in billions in revenue for our local economies is simply not an option, especially due to visa backlogs,” Kim said in a statement.

During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday, Kamlager-Dove asked the secretary of state if he was committed to ensuring that visas sought by participating athletes and tourists attending the World Cup and Olympics would be provided.

Rubio responded, “100%.”

In an emailed statement afterwards, Kamlager-Dove stressed that the World Cup and Olympic Games are projected to generate about $22 billion in economic activity for the U.S.

“However, these dollars will not materialize if our stadiums are empty due to bureaucratic red tape,” she said, adding that she plans to hold Rubio to his “100%” promise.

According to Kamlager’s office, there are six countries with at least one U.S. diplomatic post where the wait time for a visa appointment extends past the date of the first World Cup match in the U.S., which is set for June 12, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Those countries are Canada, Colombia, Honduras, India, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Although most of those countries have other locations with shorter wait times, Honduras and Colombia have no diplomatic posts with wait times of less than 13 months for interviews for those seeking a B1 or B2 visa to enter the U.S., Kamlager-Dove’s office said.

In the letter to Rubio, legislators urged the Trump administration to update its visa process, including strategies to:

• Develop a visa issuance process that maintains necessary security protocols while expediting processing for accredited individuals and entities participating in the games;

• Ensure Consular Affairs has the resources to support visa processing offices overseas, and to handle increased demand for visas;

• Establish protocols for visa issuance and entry from countries that are sanctioned or don’t have U.S. consular offices, so that eligible athletes and support staff can participate in the games; and

• Consider regulatory adjustments or other measures to reduce visa appointment wait times.

Among the Southern California officials who added their names to the letter were: Reps. Pete Aguilar, D-San Bernardino; Nanette Barragán, D-San Pedro; Julia Brownley, D-Thousand Oaks; Ken Calvert, R-Corona; Laura Friedman, D-Glendale; Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach; Gil Cisneros, D-Covina; Ted Lieu, D-Torrance; Jay Obernolte, R-Hesperia; and Luz Rivas, D-Pacoima.