Andrew Giuliani, head of the 2026 World Cup Task Force, says the US is preparing for ‘billions’ of threats as security, visas, and ticket costs spark controversy.
Even before the first whistle of the 2026 World Cup in North America, the loudest headlines have been about who will get in, who might be turned away, and what security will look like once the tournament begins.
Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the 2026 World Cup Task Force, is at the center of that pressure.. The 40-year-old. appointed last May by Donald Trump to lead the White House’s World Cup effort. says the United States faces “billions” of possible attacks this summer as one of the most high-profile sporting events of Trump’s second term approaches.
The groundwork for the tournament was laid politically as well as logistically. Trump took personal credit for the US, Mexico and Canada winning co-host status, and Giuliani points to the scale: the US will host 78 of the 104 matches across 11 cities, with just under a month remaining until kickoff.
Within the Task Force. Giuliani’s responsibilities include navigating the federal government’s role in a complex operation. particularly around security planning.. He describes the president’s instructions as a push to deliver the “biggest. safest and most extraordinary” World Cup possible. adding that the project is also tied to Trump’s broader legacy and messaging for the 250th birthday of the United States.
Yet the preparations have not unfolded in a vacuum.. Over the past 12 months. the tournament has been marred by a series of controversies. ranging from issues reported to stem from FIFA and Gianni Infantino to complications attributed to decisions made closer to the White House.. As the start date nears. Giuliani’s comments underline that the Task Force is dealing with fallout on multiple fronts. not only on the sporting side.
Ticket prices have become one of the most contentious topics.. Giuliani acknowledges that prices are “exorbitant,” while also suggesting that the demand itself helps explain why costs have climbed.. He adds that the federal government is not set up to intervene on price controls. pointing to the volume of ticket requests—reportedly crossing the half-billion mark in late January—and noting that there are seven million tickets available.
In this context, fans’ access to the event is also being shaped by immigration and screening rules.. The report states that fans from Iran. Haiti. Senegal and Ivory Coast are banned from traveling to the US. with only narrow exceptions. while others may face requirements including paying a deposit of up to $15. 000 before entry is granted.. At one point. it had been suggested that ICE agents would be a “key part” of World Cup security inside stadiums. but it is now indicated that they will not be patrolling venues after all.
Giuliani’s message to those who have spent heavily to attend is that security checks have to remain in place but there should be a way for people to seek review.. He says the Task Force wants anyone who has paid for tickets to have at least an opportunity to get their case reviewed. while stressing that nothing about the core security screening process has changed.
Visa processing has already moved forward at significant speed. with more than five million visa applications reportedly handled across 19 World Cup nations.. Still. the report highlights that one delegation—linked to Iran—may encounter additional difficulties. reflecting the uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation as geopolitical tensions continue.
Iran’s status has remained a major question since war broke out between Israel and America. and Trump warned players to stay away for their “own life and safety.” According to the report. Iran has said it would take part if ten conditions are met. including guarantees that every player. coach and official will receive visas even if they have served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).. Giuliani says that in discussions with Infantino and FIFA’s team. the plan has been that Iran will play its scheduled games.
The report also describes specific US and Canada constraints through official statements.. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is cited as saying that the US will not allow IRGC-linked terrorists into the country under the guise of being journalists or athletic trainers.. The report notes that both the US and Canada have designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization. and Giuliani ties any visa decisions to national security judgments.
He explains that teams, including players and support staff, undergo security vetting for each relevant visa decision.. For Giuliani. the central objective is that the event remains safe—an aim he frames as essential to the World Cup’s success. particularly given the strain in relationships among the co-host countries.
Cybersecurity is another major component of the threat picture being raised.. Giuliani says America is preparing for “billions” of cyberattacks. with the World Cup expected to be one of the most targeted events of Trump’s second term.. The report also points to warnings about the risk of Iranian sleeper cells and the “imminent danger” of deadly drone attacks.
Federal support for host-city defenses is highlighted through funding numbers cited in the report.. FEMA has provided host cities a combined $625 million to strengthen security against potential terrorist attacks. while an additional $250 million is said to have been invested to protect airspace from drones for the World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.. Giuliani emphasizes that state and local governments need tools to mitigate the drone threat quickly, describing the situation as fast-moving.
Security planning is also closely linked to Trump’s personal schedule and public appearances.. Giuliani notes that security must “ratchet up another notch” whenever Trump attends a game.. He says Trump is expected to be at the final. and Giuliani describes having direct conversations to finalize where the president wants to be. while acknowledging that Trump can only pencil plans into his calendar.
The report also recalls Trump’s presence at other major sporting events during his return to the Oval Office. including the Super Bowl and Ryder Cup.. It notes he joined in celebrations last summer when Chelsea won the Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium. and it frames Giuliani’s work as part of coordinating those appearances.
The sense of urgency around threats intensified again after the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. where a gunman allegedly tried to assassinate Trump.. Giuliani describes the incident as a sobering reminder of the threats facing America. casting a shadow over preparations for a tournament that will draw international teams and visitors.
Giuliani’s own sports background is also part of the story. even if his experience is not rooted in football at a coaching level.. The report states his soccer credentials are limited and he would back the US men’s national team to beat opponents. but his relationship with Trump—and the crossover between sports and politics—has been a defining feature of his career.
The narrative stretches back decades.. In 1994. while still a child. Giuliani attended the World Cup in New Jersey with his parents and watched the Republic of Ireland deliver an opening-weekend upset against Italy.. The same year. he attended New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani’s inaugural address when Andrew was seven. participating in the crowd and later becoming something of a punchline on Saturday Night Live. including jokes about his father’s fitness for office.
Giuliani’s professional life has been shaped by that family connection.. Rudy Giuliani was described as “America’s Mayor” after 9/11 and later became a Trump attorney. while also being associated in the public eye with controversies including hair dye and Four Seasons Total Landscaping.. The report notes Andrew has known Trump since he was young, and argues that familiarity helps him in the role.
There is also mention of Giuliani’s own attempts to build a career in golf and his rocky path in elite competition.. He is described as a former professional golfer who once played with Tiger Woods as a youngster. and it is reported he was kicked off the Duke University golf team after alleged indiscretions.. He sued the school, but the case was dismissed.
More recently, the report points to a moment involving Rory McIlroy.. Giuliani says Trump told him McIlroy was better than him after they played nine holes together. and that McIlroy went on to win the Masters a few months later.. The report connects that win to the confidence McIlroy gained. while noting Giuliani had already returned to the White House by the time the golfer secured a second consecutive Masters title.
Politics has remained at the center of Giuliani’s trajectory. including a bid to become New York governor in 2022 and then a return to work with Team Trump.. With the Task Force’s work now reaching its most demanding test. the report suggests there is little room for error as the World Cup intersects with personal upheaval.
Rudy Giuliani’s health has reportedly become a concern after he was rushed to hospital with pneumonia.. The report says he spent time in the ICU. was reportedly read the last rites. and then his condition reportedly shifted again as health concerns grew. raising uncertainty over whether father and son can soon share another World Cup trip together.
For Andrew Giuliani. the coming weeks appear to be defined by one central balancing act: managing the logistics of an unprecedented tournament across North America while also preparing for a security and political environment he describes as capable of generating “billions” of threats—at a time when even basic access. tickets. and visas have become part of the story.
2026 World Cup Andrew Giuliani World Cup security visa restrictions ticket prices Iran participation FEMA funding