Football fans travelling to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will benefit from accelerated visa processing under a new scheme announced by President Donald Trump.
What is FIFA PASS?
During a press conference in the Oval Office on Monday 17th November 2025, President Trump unveiled the FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS), designed to streamline visa applications for legitimate ticket holders.
"I've directed my administration to do everything within their power to make the 2026 World Cup an unprecedented success," President Trump declared alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The innovative system will allow supporters who have purchased match tickets directly through FIFA to access expedited visa interviews through a dedicated online portal.
Enhanced Consular Support
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the administration has taken significant steps to prepare for increased demand, including deploying 400 additional consular officers worldwide.
"In about 80% of the globe, travellers to the US can get a visa appointment within 60 days," Mr Rubio stated, emphasising the administration's commitment to efficient processing.
While ticket holders will receive priority scheduling, Mr Rubio stressed that security vetting standards remain unchanged. "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."
Global Welcome for Football Fans
FIFA President Gianni Infantino welcomed the initiative, stating: "America welcomes the world. We have always said that this will be the greatest and most inclusive FIFA World Cup in history - and the FIFA PASS service is a very concrete example of that."
Mr Infantino added that the United States is preparing to welcome football enthusiasts on an unprecedented scale when the tournament kicks off in North America next June.
The 2026 World Cup will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with over six million tickets available for what promises to be the largest World Cup in history.
This streamlined approach contrasts with recent tournaments where visa requirements were simpler. In 2018, Russia implemented a fan ID system, while Qatar 2022 utilised the Hayya Card programme instead of traditional visas.
President Trump strongly encouraged prospective visitors to apply for their visas immediately to ensure smooth processing ahead of the tournament.
