As the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America accelerates, the United States has begun rolling out an unprecedented visa facilitation scheme designed specifically for international fans.

The new FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System, branded FIFA PASS, is now live and promises faster access to visa interview slots for ticketed spectators heading to matches on U.S. soil.

At the same time, the broader U.S. visa environment has become more complex, shaped by tighter immigration rules, new data screening proposals and a recent suspension of immigrant visas for dozens of countries.

Together, these policies are reshaping how millions of potential visitors will navigate the journey from ticket purchase to stadium turnstile.

More News

What FIFA PASS Actually Does for World Cup Fans

FIFA PASS is the centerpiece of a joint initiative between FIFA and the U.S. Department of State to smooth visa access for foreign ticket holders attending World Cup games in the United States. Officials describe it not as a special visa class, but as a queue‑management tool that gives eligible fans priority access to interview appointments for standard visitor visas, primarily the B‑2 tourist category. In practice, this means a faster path to securing an in‑person consular interview in countries where wait times can otherwise stretch for many months.

The system is voluntary and opt‑in. According to FIFA and State Department communications, all current ticket holders for matches in U.S. host cities are being notified by the FIFA ticketing office about how to enroll. Future buyers will receive the same option at the point of purchase. Once a fan opts in, their details are shared through the FIFA PASS framework so that local U.S. embassies and consulates can offer earlier available interview slots than those listed in the general appointment calendar.

Crucially, officials emphasize that FIFA PASS does not guarantee a visa. Consular officers will still apply standard eligibility criteria, including proof of ties to the home country, financial capacity, and credible travel plans. The system is designed to address access to appointments, not the outcome of interviews. As one State Department statement put it in late 2025, fans will have “priority access to apply for a visa, not receive one,” underscoring that the usual security vetting remains fully in place.

How FIFA PASS Fits into the Wider Visa Strategy for 2026

The launch of FIFA PASS sits within a broader U.S. government effort to prepare for a surge in visitor demand tied not only to the World Cup, but also to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and other major sporting events. In cables to embassies and consulates, the administration has instructed posts to prioritize visa applications from foreign investors and spectators traveling specifically for these marquee tournaments. That directive effectively elevates World Cup visitors in the queue alongside high‑value business travelers.

The State Department has also pledged to send hundreds of additional consular officers to “designated countries” to manage the expected wave of applications from fans in nations that do not benefit from the Visa Waiver Program. Many of those countries already experience long wait times for tourist visa interviews. By boosting staffing and carving out priority slots, officials say they aim to avoid the kind of bottlenecks that could leave ticketed fans grounded just as the tournament kicks off.

At the same time, consular officials are keen to temper expectations. Internal assessments cited by U.S. diplomats note that in roughly 80 percent of countries likely to qualify or send large fan contingents, appointment wait times can already be kept to two months or less with current staffing. The focus of both FIFA PASS and additional deployments, they say, will therefore fall on remaining posts where backlogs could stretch beyond the window needed to issue visas before the first group‑stage match.

The Shadow of a Tougher U.S. Immigration Environment

The pro‑fan messaging around FIFA PASS stands in contrast to broader moves by the Trump administration that have tightened the overall U.S. immigration and travel regime. On January 15, 2026, the State Department announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, many in Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East. The pause, which took effect on January 21, targets those seeking permanent residency, not tourists, but it has added to a growing sense of unpredictability around U.S. entry rules.

That suspension follows an expanded travel ban and stricter “public charge” screening criteria intended to bar immigrants deemed likely to rely on public assistance. While temporary tourist and business visas are technically unaffected, analysts warn that the same security and economic‑risk lenses are increasingly being applied across categories. For some would‑be World Cup spectators residing in the affected countries, especially those with complex travel histories or weaker financial documentation, that could translate into more intensive questioning and higher refusal rates.

Other proposed measures are stirring concern within the tourism and events industry. A draft Homeland Security rule, circulated earlier this month, would require travelers from visa‑waiver countries to provide additional personal data and up to five years of social media history as part of their pre‑travel authorization. Event organizers and privacy advocates argue that the prospect of detailed social media scrutiny could deter casual fans, particularly younger travelers, from booking trips, even if the formal entry requirements remain unchanged.

Winners and Losers: Who Benefits Most from FIFA PASS

Immigration lawyers and travel policy experts say FIFA PASS is likely to be a game‑changer primarily for fans in large, non‑waiver countries where consular backlogs have been most severe. Wait times of six months or more for a B‑1/B‑2 tourist visa are not uncommon in parts of South America, South Asia and West Africa. For a supporter who has already secured a match ticket and made tentative accommodation plans, being able to move an interview from late 2026 into the spring or early summer could be the difference between boarding a plane and watching on television.

“What FIFA PASS really buys you is certainty on timing,” said one New York‑based immigration attorney who advises sports clients. “You still need to qualify. But instead of refreshing the appointment calendar at midnight hoping a slot opens up in November, a ticketed fan can reasonably expect to be seen in time to travel for the group stage.” Practitioners note that early movers will have the greatest advantage, as priority capacity, while expanded, is not unlimited.

By contrast, fans from countries in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program will see little direct benefit from FIFA PASS. Travelers from much of Europe, parts of Asia and a handful of other partner states can already enter the United States for up to 90 days without a visa by securing electronic authorization through the ESTA system. For those supporters, the main advice from experts is to apply for ESTA early and monitor any policy changes, particularly around new data‑sharing or social media disclosure rules.

Serious Constraints for Fans in Banned or High‑Risk Categories

Even with FIFA PASS, there are clear limits to how inclusive the 2026 World Cup can be from a U.S. visa perspective. Under the current visa suspension and travel ban architecture, citizens of several countries whose national teams have either qualified for the tournament or remain in contention face significant hurdles. While the administration has carved out exemptions for athletes, coaches and essential support staff participating in the World Cup and certain other sanctioned sporting events, those exceptions do not extend to ordinary spectators, media or sponsors who lack separate qualifying reasons for entry.

State Department guidance updated in late 2025 underlined that fans from banned countries are welcome to apply for visas and may receive priority interview scheduling if they can show valid match tickets. However, it also acknowledged that actual visa issuance in such cases would be “unlikely,” except in rare circumstances where a national interest waiver can be justified. That dual message has prompted criticism from some human rights organizations, which argue that it creates a false impression of access while maintaining near‑total exclusion for many supporters.

There are other, more technical barriers. Travelers who have previously spent time in certain sanctioned states, or who hold dual nationality with a country designated under security‑focused statutes, may find that they are ineligible for ESTA and must instead seek a full visa, even if they primarily reside in a visa‑waiver country. For those fans, FIFA PASS can help secure a faster appointment, but it cannot change the underlying legal triggers that mandate heightened scrutiny and potential refusal.

What Consular Experts Advise World Cup Travelers to Do Now

Visa specialists urge prospective World Cup visitors to treat FIFA PASS as a helpful add‑on rather than a substitute for careful planning. The fundamental steps for securing permission to attend matches in the United States remain the same: completing the DS‑160 application form, paying the relevant fees, scheduling and attending an interview where required, and presenting clear evidence of travel intent, financial resources and ties to home.

For first‑time applicants from non‑waiver countries, the recommendation is to begin the process as soon as they have a reasonable sense of their travel dates, particularly if they live in a city where U.S. consular operations have historically faced backlogs. Experts note that while FIFA PASS can move a fan forward in the queue, it does not eliminate the need to resolve any security‑related “administrative processing” that may arise after the interview, which can add weeks or months to the timeline.

Travelers who already hold valid U.S. visitor visas are arguably best placed. They can bypass FIFA PASS entirely, provided their documents remain valid for the planned stay and they have not triggered any new risk flags since issuance. Lawyers caution, however, that prior visa issuance is not an absolute guarantee of trouble‑free entry, particularly amid ongoing policy shifts targeting speech, online activity and perceived ideological threats.

Balancing Security, Politics and the Promise to “Welcome the World”

From the White House stage where FIFA PASS was first unveiled in November 2025, officials have repeatedly framed the system as proof that the United States is ready to “welcome the world” for the largest World Cup in history. FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed the initiative as a “very concrete” example of efforts to make the 2026 tournament the most inclusive ever, while U.S. leaders have promised the “greatest and safest” edition in the competition’s history.

Yet the rollout is also unfolding against a backdrop of politically charged debates over migration, border enforcement and the role of major sporting events in softening or reinforcing a country’s global image. Advocacy groups warn that aggressive enforcement of travel bans, expanded use of social media monitoring and the high‑profile pause on immigrant visas risk undercutting the message of openness that FIFA PASS is meant to send. They argue that fans are sensitive not only to wait times, but to perceived hostility or arbitrariness in the system.

Industry coalitions representing event organizers, tourism boards and airlines have pressed the administration to provide clearer, coordinated public guidance so that fans understand the distinction between expedited appointment access and the unchanged standards for approval. They also want assurances that any new screening rules will be implemented with enough lead time and transparency to avoid last‑minute cancellations or mass refusals that could leave seats empty in newly expanded 48‑team venues across the United States.

What This Year Means for Fans Planning Their World Cup Journey

For the millions of supporters now mapping out trips to North America, 2026 still looks set to be a landmark year in football travel. The World Cup will span 16 host cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with more than six million tickets expected to be available. Eleven U.S. cities are slated to host 78 matches, including many of the later‑stage fixtures that traditionally draw the largest international crowds. The sheer scale of the event magnifies the stakes of any policy that affects who can enter the country and how easily they can do so.

In that context, FIFA PASS is best seen as both a practical tool and a political signal. On a practical level, it offers a structured pathway for ticketed fans in many high‑demand countries to secure visa interviews in time to travel, backed by added consular staffing and explicit prioritization directives. On a political level, it allows U.S. officials to showcase cooperation with FIFA and the global football community even as they pursue a tougher overarching line on immigration and security.

Whether that balance ultimately holds will depend less on official slogans than on the individual experiences of fans at consulates and airports over the coming months. For now, experts agree on one point: this is the year when prospective World Cup visitors need to engage seriously with the fine print of U.S. visa policy. Those who understand what FIFA PASS can and cannot do for them, and who start the process early, are likely to have the best chance of turning a ticket confirmation email into a seat in a U.S. stadium next summer.