The Trump administration has instructed US Embassies and consulates around the world to prioritize visa applications from people wishing to visit the US for the World Cup. It comes as people anxiously await the FIFA World Cup draw on Friday. In the meantime, Santa Clara is gearing up to fans from around the world. The Bay Area is expecting hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world this summer for the FIFA World Cup. And now, there’s a push to make it faster for people outside of the US to get visas so that they can come watch the matches. The Trump administration has instructed US Embassies and consulates around the world to prioritize visa applications from people wishing to visit the US For the World Cup. Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor says it’s important for people to be able to come and watch the games. “The World Cup is about inviting the globe to be together, to work together, to play together,” Gillmor said. “It’s so important that people are able to come to watch the games, not just the athletes, but those spectators from those countries to be able to be here.” But Gillmor has concerns about those not able to come because of the president’s travel ban, which the Homeland Security secretary said Thursday she expects to expand. “There are still banned countries that will be participating in the World Cup that may or may not be able to get their residents here safely and legally,” Gillmor said. On Saturday, we’ll find out which countries will play at Levi’s Stadium. But first, on Friday, we’ll know more about which teams will play each other in the group stage. Levi’s Stadium has six matches – five of them are group stage matches. As the Bay Area watches on, cities are gearing up for the summer – banners are up along El Camino in Santa Clara and the VTA is preparing to move about 25,000 people to and from Levi’s Stadium each day there’s a match. “We began working on these plans two years ago,” said Stacey Hendler Ross with VTA. “We’ve done some needed upgrades to our rail lines, we’ve made crossovers on the rail lines so the trains can get by each other more quickly, we’ve done upgrades to the platforms to the ticket vending machines.” Following the draw Friday, information about which stadium is assigned to each match and their kickoff times will be expected on Saturday. ...read more read less