Speaking from the White House, Donald Trump, joined by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, unveiled yesterday the “FIFA PASS”, a new program designed to streamline visa interview access for supporters planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For Washington, the goal is clear: ensuring that as many international fans as possible can travel to the United States within reasonable timeframes, at a moment when consulates are still dealing with significant backlogs for tourist visa appointments.
Just months ahead of the world’s biggest football event, Gianni Infantino expressed strong satisfaction as he announced the launch of the “FIFA PASS” (Priority Appointment Scheduling System), “a service which gives every fan who buys a FIFA World Cup ticket on FIFA.com/tickets and travelling to the United States the opportunity to schedule a prioritised visa appointment.”
“We have always said that this will be the greatest and most inclusive FIFA World Cup in history – and FIFA PASS is a very concrete example of that,” said the FIFA President, delighted by the “incredible support” shown by Donald J. Trump, Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Executive Director Andrew Giuliani, and the White House Task Force.
Relieving pressure on U.S. consulates
The United States, co-hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico, will stage 78 of the World Cup’s 104 matches, with several million visitors expected. This represents a significant challenge, especially since some U.S. consulates, notably in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, traditionally have interview wait times that can stretch for many months.
The “FIFA PASS” does not guarantee a visa, but it does allow its holder, provided they have already purchased an official ticket through FIFA’s platform, to access a priority appointment calendar.
According to initial estimates published by U.S. authorities, wait times could drop to around 60 days in some regions, compared to several hundred days previously.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the announcement, U.S. officials emphasized a key point: a match ticket is not a visa.
“Your ticket is not a visa; it doesn’t guarantee admission to the US,” said Marco Rubio, who was also at the White House on Monday. “We’re going to do the same vetting as anybody else would get. The only difference here is we’re moving them up in the queue.”
Thus, the process remains unchanged: DS-160 form, fee payment, in-person interview, and security checks. The “FIFA PASS” provides only priority access to scheduling, not any influence on the final decision.
Visa, ESTA, and the limits of the “FIFA PASS”: what travelers will need to do
To enter the United States during the 2026 World Cup:
- Citizens of countries in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), such as European nations, must apply for an ESTA electronic travel authorization, which is required even outside the tournament period.
- Travelers not eligible for ESTA must apply for a B1/B2 tourist visa.
- The “FIFA PASS” will then provide, for any holder of an official match ticket, access to a priority interview slot at a U.S. consulate.
- Verification procedures, required documents, and the final decision, however, remain unchanged.
In short, the “FIFA PASS” is meant to streamline access to visa appointments, not act as a fast-tracked entry document. It’s a “fast lane,” not a new pathway into the country.
