The United States has opened a priority visa appointment system for holders of tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, allowing football fans to apply for earlier visa interview dates ahead of the tournament.
According to a report by the BBC, the new scheme enables ticket holders to access prioritised visa slots before the competition kicks off on June 11, 2026. The World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, running until July 19.
The United States will host 78 of the 104 matches across 11 cities, including the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, making it the tournament’s primary host nation.
FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System
The FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System, dubbed the “FIFA Pass” by US President Donald Trump, went live on Tuesday. In November, Trump said the Departments of State and Homeland Security had been working “tirelessly” to ensure fans from around the world are properly vetted and able to travel to the US.
“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,” Trump said.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the organisation expects between five and ten million people to travel to North America for the tournament.
“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,” Infantino said.
However, US authorities have stressed that priority appointments do not guarantee visa approval. All applicants will still be subject to standard security screening and vetting.
A senior State Department official said the system would significantly reduce waiting times, with applicants in over 80 per cent of countries now able to secure visa appointments in less than 60 days.
“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,” the official said.
US Waiver System
Citizens of countries under the US Visa Waiver Programme, including much of Europe, the UK, Japan and Australia, will not need to use the FIFA Pass. Instead, they can travel visa-free for up to 90 days after applying for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation).
The new system was introduced partly because fans from some qualifying countries might otherwise be unable to secure visa appointments in time for the tournament.
The announcement comes amid a recent US decision to pause the processing of immigrant visas from 75 countries, effective January 21. The State Department clarified that the pause applies only to immigrant visas and does not affect non-immigrant visas, including those for tourists, athletes, and media professionals.
Countries already qualified for the 2026 World Cup that are affected by the immigrant visa pause include Algeria, Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Uruguay and Uzbekistan. Seven other listed countries remain in contention to qualify.
Despite this, the State Department warned that fans from countries under full or partial travel restrictions, including Haiti, Iran, Ivory Coast and Senegal, may still face difficulties entering the US. While visa applications can be submitted, spectators from those countries may ultimately be deemed ineligible for visa issuance or admission.
Guidance states that exceptions under the travel ban apply only to athletes, team officials, support staff and immediate relatives, and do not extend to fans or spectators.
