The United States has announced a special visa arrangement for football fans planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The new system is expected to ease travel stress ahead of the highly anticipated tournament.
The competition will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across North America. Under the new policy, holders of valid World Cup tickets can request faster visa interview appointments.
The initiative is known as the FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System, also called the FIFA Pass. It was introduced to address long visa waiting times in many countries. This development comes as preparations intensify for the largest World Cup in history.
The United States will host 78 of the 104 matches across 11 cities.
Moreover, the final match is scheduled to take place in New Jersey. Canada and Mexico will co-host the remaining games. Therefore, millions of fans are expected to travel into the region during the tournament period.
According to US officials, the FIFA Pass was created to reduce pressure on embassies. A senior State Department official said applicants in over 80 percent of countries can now secure visa appointments within 60 days.
He stressed that, “At the visa appointment, the applicant must show they qualify for the visa and plan to follow our laws and leave at the end of the tournament. America’s safety and the security of our borders will always come first.”
Meanwhile, FIFA President Gianni Infantino welcomed the move. He noted that global interest in the tournament is already massive.
Infantino said, “With this FIFA Pass, we can make sure that those who buy a ticket, legitimate football fans, can attend the World Cup in the best conditions, starting with getting their visa and then coming to the country to enjoy the tournament.”
US President Donald Trump also reacted, assuring fans of his administration’s support.
He stated, “I’ve directed my administration to do everything within our power to make the 2026 World Cup an unprecedented success. We are setting records on ticket sales.”
However, officials were clear that the FIFA Pass does not guarantee visa approval. All applicants will still undergo full security screening. Furthermore, travelers must meet all standard visa requirements.
Citizens of Visa Waiver Programme countries, including the UK, will not need visas. Instead, they must apply for an ESTA before traveling.
