Speaking in Washington during a discussion hosted by Semafor, an American news outlet covering politics, business, and international affairs, Gianni Infantino sought to reassure travelers on what has become a key concern for many foreign visitors: entering the United States for the 2026 World Cup.
As some fans worry about visa rules and the difficulties faced by certain nationalities, the FIFA president stressed the determination to make sure teams, their relatives, and supporters are able to attend. “We will make sure definitely that all the teams, the players, the officials can come, that it’s clear, including, of course, family members and even fans,” he said.
At the same time, he noted that FIFA is continuing its discussions with the authorities of the three host countries. “We are in constant discussions with the American government, with the Canadian government, with the Mexican government, to see ho we can have the possibility for fans who have bought tickets to be able to enter the country,” he explained.
His remarks come as ticket demand remains extremely strong and entry formalities are becoming an increasingly important part of preparations for the tournament. Semafor also noted that the competition is generating massive interest at a time when U.S. immigration policies remain under close scrutiny.
An expedited process exists for some ticket holders
On the visa front, Gianni Infantino said that a specific mechanism has already been put in place for some supporters.
“Of course, there needs to be always a visa, but we already obtained that there is a quicker pass to obtain a visa for many fans, and that works actually quite well,” he said. This process refers to FIFA PASS, the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System, which FIFA and U.S. authorities have presented as a priority interview scheduling system for ticket holders attending matches in the United States.
In practical terms, it provides priority access to consular appointments for eligible fans. It is not a visa waiver, nor does it grant automatic entry.
FIFA also notes that the service is mainly useful in countries where wait times for visa interviews remain long. Travelers eligible for ESTA, or those who are already able to secure an appointment within a reasonable time frame, generally do not need to rely on it.
FIFA also wants to find a solution for countries facing greater difficulties
The FIFA president also addressed the most sensitive cases, namely countries whose nationals already face obstacles in obtaining a U.S. visa.
“But also for those countries where today there have difficulties in even obtaining visa, to have a situation where we can have fans of these countries,” he said.
The wording remains cautious, but it shows that FIFA is fully aware of the issue. The organization is clearly trying to convey that the matter is not being overlooked just weeks before the tournament. For the supporters concerned, however, the message remains measured. Discussions are ongoing, special arrangements exist for some ticket holders, but U.S. entry requirements still apply and each application remains subject to the visa rules currently in force.
For some fans, those difficulties may also be compounded by a particularly heavy financial burden. Among the teams already qualified for the tournament, Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia are from countries listed by the United States as nationalities that may, for certain B1/B2 visitor visas, be subject to a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or as much as $15,000.
A very real issue for World Cup travelers
For future spectators, this episode at least has the benefit of putting the visa issue back at the center of preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
Simply having a ticket is not enough to enter the United States, and FIFA itself states on its information pages that a ticket for the tournament does not guarantee the issuance of a visa for the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
In the U.S. case, supporters from many countries must hold a B1 or B2 visitor visa, while others may travel with ESTA authorization under the Visa Waiver Program. FIFA PASS therefore mainly serves as a practical tool for some travelers who are already well into the process of planning their trip.
