The truth about World Cup visas nobody wants to hear The article argues that criticism of stricter World Cup entry rules ignores the abuse of visa-free access during the 2018 Russian World Cup, where many attendees overstayed or attempted to enter the EU illegally. Media outlets and figures like John Oliver are accused of political bias for downplaying these past events and focusing on perceived inconveniences of current security measures. The author suggests that current host nations (US, Canada, Mexico) are implementing stricter rules based on lessons learned from 2018, prioritizing security over unrestricted access.

• The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia saw a significant number of attendees overstay their visas or use Fan IDs to attempt illegal entry into the EU.
• Media figures and outlets are criticized for hypocrisy and political bias in their coverage of World Cup visa policies, overlooking past abuses.
• Concerns raised by African ambassadors in 2018 highlighted the issue of individuals using the World Cup as a means to work illegally or seek entry into the EU.
• An EU report indicated a 24% increase in irregular crossings into the bloc in 2018, partly attributed to the ‘World Cup Effect’.
• The current World Cup hosts (US, Canada, Mexico) are implementing stricter measures, learning from the security and immigration issues of the 2018 tournament.
• FIFA largely distanced itself from the overstay issues in Russia, stating the Fan ID project was managed by the Russian government.