November 18 – Flanked by FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration said that World Cup ticket holders will be prioritised for visa interviews.
Responding to major concerns over backlogs at US embassies and consular posts, the U.S. government is establishing the “FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System” – or FIFA PASS – program to expedite the visa process for fans and supporters with a ticket for the 2026 tournament that the United States will co-host with Mexico and Canada.
Trump said: “I’ve directed my administration to do everything within their power to make the 2026 World Cup an unprecedented success.” He called it “a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase the beauty and the greatness of America.”
“It guarantees you an expedited appointment. You’ll still go through the same vetting process as anyone else. The only difference here is that we’re moving you up in line,” said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
He added: “In about 80 per cent of the world now, you can get an appointment in under 60 days.”
FIFA said that the FIFA PASS is part of a larger collaboration between the global governing body and the White House’s World Cup Task Force.
The U.S. will host 78 of the 104 matches of the 48-team World Cup. New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Miami will be among 11 U.S .host cities to welcome fans from around the world.
“With this FFIFA PASS, we can make sure that those who buy a ticket, that are legitimate football fans or soccer fans, they can come and attend the World Cup in the best conditions, starting from getting their visa,” said Infantino.
U.S. Travel Association, a tourism industry trade group, lauded the move. In a statement, CEO Geoff Freeman, “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.”
Last June, Trump signed an executive order banning nationals from 12 countries from entering the U.S., citing an effort to manage security threats. It’s unclear if the ‘FIFA Pass’ will apply to those 12 countries. Iranian football officials reportedly did not receive a visa for the World Cup draw on 5 December in Washington DC.
At the last two World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, a ticket generated a fan ID that served as a visa. For the 2026 World Cup, FIFA expects to sell more than 6 million tickets for the tournament, generating a revenue of $3 billion.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at [email protected]