The United States has rolled out FIFA PASS, a priority visa system aimed at assisting international football fans attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The initiative, introduced by the State Department on January 20, offers ticket holders a faster pathway to secure their US visas ahead of the tournament.
A senior official from the State Department said the programme reflects the Trump Administration’s goal of hosting what it describes as the ‘largest and most spectacular FIFA World Cup in history’. FIFA PASS ensures that genuine ticket holders can secure their visa appointments promptly while maintaining all existing immigration rules.
Through FIFA PASS, authorities will prioritise confirmed ticket holders for visa interviews. The system allows fans to complete the consular process faster and obtain their visas well before the tournament begins.
“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,” the official said. “America’s safety and the security of our borders will ALWAYS come first,” they added.
To manage the increased demand, the State Department is deploying more than 500 additional consular staff specifically to process World Cup visa applications. These officers will uphold the same strict security standards as regular visa applicants, ensuring that border safety and national security remain a top priority.
The department has also taken steps to cut visa appointment waiting periods worldwide. In over 80 per cent of countries, applicants can now secure a US visitor visa interview in less than 60 days, significantly improving previous delays. Fans are encouraged to apply as early as possible through the official FIFA World Cup 26 visa information portal.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off on June 11, featuring 48 national teams across multiple host cities. Eleven US cities will host 78 matches, including the final at the New York-New Jersey Stadium.
For the first time, the United States, Canada, and Mexico will jointly host the tournament and feature an expanded 48-team format, which will increase the number of matches and attract more international visitors.
By combining FIFA PASS, additional staffing, and reduced appointment wait times, the US aims to deliver a seamless, secure, and efficient experience for World Cup fans while ensuring strict compliance with immigration regulations.
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