US to Prioritize Visa Appointments for 2026 World Cup Ticket Holders

President Donald Trump has announced that US embassies will now prioritize visa appointments for travelers who hold tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The new FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (PASS) will help fans with long visa wait times get earlier interview dates, Trump said at the White House on Monday.

Priority Does Not Guarantee a Visa

Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that having a World Cup ticket does not mean automatic visa approval.

• Ticket holders can get a visa interview within 6 to 8 weeks of applying.
• Regular security checks will still apply.
• “Your ticket is not a visa,” Rubio said. “We’re doing the same vetting as everyone else — we’re just moving them up in the queue.”

World Cup Fans Expected in Huge Numbers

The 2026 Men’s World Cup will be hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico, with most matches taking place in the United States.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, speaking beside Trump and Rubio, said the US could see up to 10 million visitors for the event.

He added that the PASS system will ensure that genuine football fans can attend matches “in the best conditions, starting from getting their visa.”

Long Visa Wait Times in Several Countries

Many countries already qualified for the tournament currently face extremely long US visa wait times:

• Colombia: About 11 months
• Mexico City: 9.5 months
• Toronto (non-Canadian residents): 14 months

At these rates, many fans would receive interview dates after the World Cup ends if no priority system existed.

Not Everyone Needs a US Visa

Citizens of countries under the US Visa Waiver Program — including most of Europe, the UK, Japan, Australia, and others — can continue to enter the US visa-free for up to 90 days.

At the last two World Cups in Russia and Qatar, match tickets also provided fans with a special Fan ID, which worked like a visa for entry.

Quick Summary

• The US will prioritize visa appointments for 2026 World Cup ticket holders.
• Ticket holders can get interviews in 6–8 weeks, but normal vetting remains.
• Up to 10 million visitors are expected for the tournament.
• Many countries currently face visa wait times of 9–14 months.

Original News Credit: https://www.bbc.com/news