- The United States has warned foreign influencers visiting the 2026 soccer World Cup that creating content for profit while on tourist visas could be considered illegal employment.
- Authorities say violators face deportation if they generate income from content produced during their stay without a proper work permit.
The United States government has issued a warning to foreign social media influencers planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, warning that creating content for profit while on a tourist visa could lead to deportation.
The tournament, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, kicks off on June 11 and is expected to attract millions of visitors, including content creators, vloggers and influencers from around the world.
According to reports, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has clarified that visitors entering the country on tourist visas are not permitted to engage in activities considered employment without appropriate authorization.
The warning specifically applies to influencers who travel to the United States primarily to create content that generates revenue through platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and similar services.
Speaking on the issue, US authorities said that making money from creating content while visiting on a tourist visa could be classified as unauthorized work.
βComing to the United States for the sole purpose of creating content (as an influencer), thereby generating income from the United States while in the country, is considered work and requires the appropriate visa.
“People who enter the United States under the visitor program and receive income from U.S. sources would violate the terms of their admission status.”
The development comes as preparations intensify for the expanded FIFA World Cup, which will include 48 nations and 104 matches in 16 North American cities.
The announcement sparked discussions among influencers and digital creators, many of whom are expected to travel to cover matches, fan experiences and tournament-related events.
While the US government says the measure is aimed at enforcing immigration and employment regulations, questions remain about how the policy will be enforced and whether it could affect content creators attending the tournament.
