The United States has launched 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 BBC report, the initiative enables eligible ticket holders to access prioritised visa slots before the competition kicks off on June 11. The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, with the US staging 78 of the tournament’s 104 matches across 11 cities, including the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The new scheme, officially known as the FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System and dubbed the “FIFA Pass,” went live on Tuesday. It is designed to reduce visa appointment backlogs and ensure fans can complete the visa process in time for the tournament.
In November, US President Donald Trump said the Departments of State and Homeland Security had been working “tirelessly” to ensure that football supporters travelling from around the world are properly vetted and able to attend the World Cup.
“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 tournament is expected to attract between five and ten million visitors to North America.
“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 a priority appointment does not guarantee visa approval. The State Department said all applicants must still meet eligibility requirements and undergo standard security screening and vetting.
A senior State Department official noted that the new system is expected to significantly reduce waiting times, with applicants in more than 80 per cent of countries now able to secure a visa appointment within 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.
Most citizens of countries covered by the US Visa Waiver Programme — including much of Europe, the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia — do not need visas for short stays of up to 90 days. Instead, they are required to apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) and therefore do not need to use the FIFA Pass.
The priority system was introduced partly because citizens of some countries whose teams have qualified for the World Cup may otherwise struggle to secure visa appointments in time.
Meanwhile, concerns remain over whether fans from all qualifying nations will be able to enter the United States. Trump recently ordered a pause in the processing of immigrant visas from 75 countries, some of which have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
The State Department clarified that the suspension applies only to immigrant visas and does not affect non-immigrant visas, such as those issued to tourists, athletes, team officials and media professionals.
Countries already qualified for the World Cup that are on the list include Algeria, Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Uruguay and Uzbekistan. A further seven countries on the list — Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, DR Congo, Iraq, Jamaica, Kosovo and North Macedonia — are still in contention to qualify.
However, Haiti and Iran, both of which have qualified, are subject to full US travel restrictions, while Ivory Coast and Senegal face partial restrictions. The State Department noted that while exceptions exist for athletes, team officials and immediate relatives, they do not apply to fans or spectators.
As a result, supporters from some affected countries may still be unable to obtain visas or gain entry into the United States, despite holding World Cup tickets and securing priority appointments.
