Fans with tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup may now apply for priority visa appointments to go to the United States, according to the establishment of a new system aimed at making admission easier for supporters from all around the world.
The FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System, often known as the FIFA Pass, went online on Tuesday, following an announcement by US President Donald Trump in November.
The program was launched in part because citizens of some nations whose teams have qualified for the tournament may otherwise struggle to obtain visa appointments in time for the competition.
However, US authorities have stated that access to the system does not guarantee a visa.
All applicants must still “undergo thorough security screening and vetting,” according to the US State Department, and admission is contingent upon fulfilling all entrance conditions.
The majority of fans from nations covered by the US visa waiver program—which includes much of Europe, the UK, Japan, and Australia—are unaffected by the move because they may often enter the US for up to 90 days without a visa.
Instead of using the FIFA Pass, visitors from these countries must apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation).
According to a senior State Department official, applicants in over 80% of nations can now schedule a visa appointment in less than 60 days, demonstrating how the new system is already cutting down on delays.
The official stated, “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.”
Fans from every nation that qualifies for the 2026 World Cup may not be able to visit the United States in the end, even with the launch of FIFA Pass, as final decisions still depend on individual visa applications.
Source: newsthemegh.com