Foreign influencers traveling to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may violate visa rules if they use tourist visas to create paid content for platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook, according to a joint U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security statement sent to EL PAÍS.
The warning applies to creators who enter the country on visitor visas while planning to monetize content filmed in the U.S.
“Coming to the United States with the sole purpose of creating content as an influencer, thereby generating earnings from the United States while in the country, is considered work and requires the appropriate visa,” the agencies said.
They added that visitors who engage in unauthorized work activities while in the United States could violate the terms of their admission.
The warning comes as thousands of content creators, sports bloggers, and social media personalities are expected to travel to North America for the World Cup, with 78 of the tournament’s 104 matches scheduled in U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, Atlanta, and San Francisco.
The B-2 tourist visa allows travel for tourism, vacations, family visits, and medical treatment, but it does not permit paid work in the United States. Violations can lead to visa cancellation, removal, and restrictions on future travel.
Some professional creators may qualify for work-authorized visa categories such as the O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary ability, though eligibility depends on specific immigration requirements and individual circumstances.
A U.S. government source told EL PAÍS that authorities plan tighter inspections at airports and border crossings for influencers from Mexico and other countries who use tourist visas to produce paid content.
“Their own videos give them away,” the source said, referring to creators who publicly document their visa process and then film monetized content across U.S. cities.
The policy could complicate travel plans for hundreds of creators expected to cover the World Cup for large online audiences. It remains unclear how widely the restrictions have been enforced so far.
Immigration lawyers have long noted that the application of U.S. visa rules to online content creation can be complex, particularly when creators earn revenue from foreign platforms, foreign advertisers, or audiences located outside the United States.
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