US President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino have recently introduced the FIFA PASS. This will give football fans priority on the waiting lists for the mandatory interview at the US embassies and may enable them to obtain a tourist visa faster.
FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the US
On 11 June 2026, the World Cup will kick off in North America. This huge event will take place in three different countries: Canada, Mexico and the United States. According to FIFA, the three countries are expected to receive up to 6.5 million visitors. For the host countries, this is a great opportunity, but also a huge logistic challenge. A large number of people will request to enter their territory in a relatively short period of time.
What is the FIFA Pass?
FIFA Pass stands for Priority Appointment Scheduling System. A large number of fans come from countries requiring a tourist visa -also called B1/B2 visa- to travel to the United States. The application process includes a mandatory personal interview at the American embassy. However, in many countries there is a significant backlog at the moment. As a consequence, the waiting times for the mandatory interview are very long. This problem mainly concerns the regions of Central and South America, Asia and Africa. Often, applicants have to wait months for a tourist visa interview. If fans are unable to obtain their visas in time, this could have negative effects in the preparations for the 2026 World Cup. According to the American authorities, waiting times can be limited to approximately 60 days.
What will change in the process?
There will be no big changes in the application process. Travellers will have to fill in the same forms and the same security checks will be carried out. Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, recently clarified that a FIFA PASS is not a visa and does not guarantee entry into the United States. The security procedure remains unchanged. However, visa applications coming from the World Cup visitors will be processed faster. Conversely, applicants not attending the World Cup should expect even longer waiting times.
How was this organised in previous championships?
Football fans attending the 2018 Russia World Cup and the 2022 Qatar World Cup knew that they would be able to enter the country before purchasing their tickets. This was because a fan ID, which could be used as a visa, was generated with each purchase. At the time, the rules were much more flexible and fans did not risk missing a match because they couldn't obtain their visa in time. Many fans live far from an American embassy. Also, the mandatory interview takes a lot of time, and results most of the times in additional travel costs. Attending the sporting event will be, this time, more difficult for supporters than at previous World Cups. This could have negative consequences for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Simple procedure for travellers who can apply for an ESTA
Currently, 42 countries participate in the ESTA programme. Travellers holding a passport from one of these countries and who meet the ESTA requirements do not need to apply for a visa. The ESTA application procedure is much simpler and takes place entirely online. There is no need to visit the embassy. After completing the application form, travellers must submit an ID photo and scan of their passport. After this, the ESTA is issued within 3 days days on average. Travellers can use the ESTA for a holiday, a business trip or for the 2026 World Cup. The ESTA has a validity of 2 years and can be used for multiple trips to the United States. Each stay may last up to 90 days. On this website, you can use a application form with clear explanations. Read more here about the ESTA validity and requirements.