US will give visa appointment priority to World Cup ticket holders
President Donald Trump announced that U.S. embassies will prioritize visas for travelers with tickets to the 2026 World Cup.
FIFA’s Priority Appointment System (Pass) “will allow World Cup ticket holders facing long wait times to opt for a priority interview with FIFA,” Trump said at the White House on Monday.
Ticket holders for the tournament – scheduled for next June and July in the United States, Canada and Mexico – will not automatically receive tourist visas, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
But foreign nationals with tickets to World Cup soccer matches could get an interview at an embassy or consulate within six to eight weeks of applying, Rubio said.
“Your ticket is not a visa; it does not guarantee entry into the United States,” Rubio said, also at the White House on Monday.
“We’re going to do the same checks as anyone else. The only difference here is we move them up in the queue.”
The 2026 Men’s World Cup will be co-hosted across North America, with Mexico and Canada, with most matches played in the United States.
Speaking in the Oval Office with Trump and Rubio, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said up to 10 million visitors could come to the United States to watch World Cup matches.
“With this Fifa Pass, we can guarantee that those who buy a ticket, whether they are legitimate football fans or football fans, will be able to come and watch the World Cup in the best conditions, starting with obtaining their visa,” he said.
Some countries whose national teams have already qualified for next year’s tournament currently have long wait times to obtain a visa.
In Colombia, travelers applying for a U.S. visa currently wait about 11 months for an interview appointment, according to data released by the U.S. State Department, the agency that processes visa applications.
The average wait time in Mexico City is nine and a half months, while non-Canadian residents of Toronto can expect a 14-month wait for an appointment.
If these wait times continue, the World Cup will have already been played and the gold trophy already awarded by the time fans from certain countries have their visas approved or denied.
Monday’s announcement was praised by the US Travel Association, a travel industry trade group. “The expedited process for Fifa ticket holders adds necessary efficiency without sacrificing security,” CEO Geoff Freeman said in a statement.
“This is the kind of practical action that strengthens security, increases capacity and reduces wait times, putting the United States on a stronger footing to welcome millions of visitors next year.”
It is unclear whether the new nomination rules will cover ticket holders from countries whose citizens are mostly or entirely barred from traveling to the United States. In June, Trump signed an executive order banning nationals of 12 countries from entering the United States, citing an effort to manage security threats.
Iran, whose football team qualified for the World Cup, is one of the countries affected by this ban. The June decree exempts athletes and coaching staff from traveling for the World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, although fans could still face a ban.
The BBC has contacted the US State Department for comment.
Not all travelers coming to the United States next year will need a visa. Most citizens of countries benefiting from the US waiver program can normally travel visa-free for up to 90 days. This program covers much of Europe, including the United Kingdom, as well as Japan, Australia and others.
At the last two World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, a match ticket generated an identity card that could be used as a visa to enter the host country.
