Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Friday, June 12, 2026, 9:09 p.m. / Updated Friday, June 12, 2026, 9:10 p.m.
Because they are not in possession of a work visa, influencers could have big problems if they generate profits through the digital content they produce. The immigration authorities of US they issued a serious warning in this regard before the World Cup.
Foreign content creators and influencers who enter the US only on tourist visas to produce material for which they will earn income are violating the terms of entry into the country. And they risk facing sanctions, even going as far as deportation.
Foreigners who do not comply with the requirements of the American government risk losing their tourist visa, being sent back to their country!
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) makes it clear that foreigners entering the country on B-2 (tourist) visas are not allowed to work or receive a salary for activities conducted in the country.
According to estimates, the World Cup is expected to attract one million tourists in the United Statesincluding a significant number of independent content creators. TikTokers, Instagramers and YouTubers – influencers in general – as well as freelance journalists will share their personal experiences with followers, through posts and pseudo-reports.
RTVE will provide major digital coverage of its history in the 2026 World Cup:
⚽️ Three signals live from the most important parties and exclusive content on @rtveplay and Youtube
⚽️ Los partidos también se porgano en el channel #EnPlay
⚽️ Teledeporte Play with programs like 'Commenta… pic.twitter.com/u5s2wotqwI— RTVE Comunicación y Participación (@RTVE_Com) June 10, 2026
“Working for a media institution or visiting the country for the sole purpose of creating content (as an influencer) – thus generating income from the US during the stay – is considered work and thus requires the appropriate visa. Foreigners who do not comply with the US government's requirements risk losing their tourist visas.” reveal the BRAND.
Influencers and content creators may face legal challenges if social media accounts are created in their home countries and payments are received outside the United States.
Influencer with 162 million followers detained in Las Vegas “for overstaying”
The quoted newspaper cites as evidence that in Spain, TVE included for the first time several of these content creators, duly accredited, including Darío Eme Hache, Lucía Borro, Marina Rivers, La Sotanita and Pedro El Ingeniero.
Last year, Khaby Lame, an Italian-Senegalese and one of the most popular TikTok users in the world, was detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and deported.
Fans pose in Toronto ahead of a World Cup countdown concert
Lame, who has amassed 162 million followers on TikTok thanks to his humorous videos, was detained on June 6, 2025, at Las Vegas International Airport“for exceeding the permitted period of stay”, US authorities said.
Journalists and influencers aren't the only ones with entry issues. Last week, CBP denied entry to the Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was supposed to officiate games from this World Cup.
