The US State Department is faced with a dilemma: how to balance Trump's immigration restrictions with the vision of hosting large-scale events.

The US State Department is now on the front lines of an unexpected and tricky geopolitical challenge: reconciling Trump's immigration restrictions with the vision of successfully hosting the World Cup. Internal documents and interviews with officials obtained by reports show that the United States, as a joint host country of this global premier sporting event, is providing a crucial opportunity for the State Department to prove its value. The related documents include a "Sports Diplomacy Action Guide," detailing how to use major events like the World Cup and the Olympics to simultaneously advance soft power, attract foreign investment, and implement some of Trump's social policy goals. "The State Department plays a crucial role, especially in the eyes of the outside world," said former US Ambassador to Panama, John Feeley. Panama is one of the 48 participating countries. US embassies worldwide are increasing staff to handle fan visas and developing a visa priority review system specifically for the World Cup to ensure that ticket holders get interview opportunities first. At the same time, the State Department is requesting other countries to share hooliganism intelligence to deny visas, as revealed by a current and a former official who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media. When asked for comment, the State Department spokesperson's office cited remarks made by Rubio at the end of last year. He praised the efforts made by the department to significantly reduce waiting times for World Cup spectator visas, but also emphasized, "We advise all ticket holders to submit their applications as soon as possible, as tickets cannot substitute for visas."