Overseas fans hoping to attend matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States will now be able to apply for an expedited visa application appointment to enter the country — a key sticking point in the organization of one of the world’s largest sports events. Ticket holders planning to travel to the United States for the tournament will now be eligible for priority appointment scheduling, according to the global soccer federation.
The FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS) program was announced November 17 at the White House in an event attended by President Donald Trump, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the White House Task Force recently formed to expedite travel and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. FIFA worked with the U.S. Department of State to create the program.
The issue of visa appointment wait times has become a main concern for local organizers as fans prepare to watch teams at 11 host cities across the United States. Other games will be held in Canada and Mexico, although the majority of games will be staged in the U.S., where visa appointment wait times can be months or years long depending on the country of origin. A total of 78 matches will be played among 48 teams — the largest field in the history of the World Cup.
“The United States is set to welcome fans from around the world on an unprecedented scale, and we are preparing to ensure that football unites the world when the tournament kicks off in North America next June,” Infantino said.
Rubio said: “The United States is offering prioritized appointments so FIFA World Cup fans can complete their visa interviews and show they qualify. The kick-off is coming up, so now is the time to apply. We’re honored to host the greatest and safest World Cup in history.”
Travel industry leaders also hailed the development, which came after the White House established a task force earlier this year to address the issues surrounding visa appointments and other potential travel-related hurdles for fans.
“We applaud the Trump administration for taking meaningful steps to ensure fans from around the world can be part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” said U.S. Travel President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “Deploying more than 400 additional consular officers and doubling staff at high-demand embassies and consulates will help speed visa processing—and the expedited process for FIFA ticket-holders adds needed efficiency without sacrificing security. This is the kind of practical action that strengthens security, increases capacity and cuts wait times—putting the U.S. on stronger footing to welcome millions of visitors next year.”
Over 6 million tickets will be available for the World Cup when matches are held at 16 host cities overall. Millions of those tickets have already been sold. The draw for the World Cup will be held December 5 in Washington, D.C., when fans will know which teams are playing in which cities.
How to Apply for a World Cup Visa
Fans who are in countries with available interview appointments and need a U.S. visa can apply immediately at FIFA World Cup 2026 – United States Department of State. More information about the scheduling system will be shared with ticket holders in early 2026.
In addition, fans from countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) may be eligible to apply for visa waiver travel through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (or ESTA).
FIFA and the World Trade Organization recently released a study outlining the estimated impact that the World Cup is expected to generate across the United States. According to the report, the tournament will create 185,000 full-time jobs, deliver $30.5 billion in gross output, and contribute $17.2 billion to the nation’s gross domestic product.
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