President Donald Trump has announced that US embassies will prioritise visa appointments for travellers holding tickets to the 2026 World Cup.
Under the FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (PASS), ticket-holders experiencing long wait times can request a prioritised interview through FIFA, Trump said at the White House on Monday.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised that holding a World Cup ticket does not automatically grant a tourist visa. However, foreign nationals with tickets may be able to secure an embassy or consulate interview within six to eight weeks of applying.
«Your ticket is not a visa; it does not guarantee entry to the US,» Rubio said. «We will carry out the same vetting as anyone else. The only difference is that they move up in the queue.»
The 2026 men’s World Cup will be co-hosted across North America, with matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said as many as 10 mln visitors could travel to the US to watch the tournament.
«With FIFA PASS, legitimate fans who have bought tickets can attend the World Cup in the best conditions, starting with obtaining their visa,» Infantino said.
Long waits
Long visa appointment waits are an issue for some countries whose teams have already qualified. In Colombia, US visa applicants currently wait around 11 months, in Mexico City nine and a half months, and in Toronto 14 months for non-Canadian citizens. Without intervention, fans could receive their visas after the tournament has concluded.
The US Travel Association welcomed the announcement. CEO Geoff Freeman said, «The expedited process for FIFA ticket-holders adds efficiency without compromising security. It strengthens capacity, reduces wait times and positions the US to welcome millions of visitors next year.»
It remains unclear whether the new rules will apply to citizens of countries under US travel bans. In June, Trump issued an executive order blocking entry from 12 nations over security concerns. Iran, whose team has qualified, is affected, although athletes and coaching staff are exempt, while fans may still face restrictions.
Not all visitors to the US will require a visa, as citizens of countries in the Visa Waiver Programme, including the UK, Japan and Australia, can travel visa-free for up to 90 days.
At the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, tickets included fan IDs that functioned similarly to visas for entry to the host countries.
