By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The United States (US) has prioritised a visa appointment system for fans to travel to the country for the FIFA World Cup from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
The Fifa Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System – or Fifa Pass – announced by US President Donald Trump in November 2025, went live on Tuesday.
It was introduced in part because citizens of some countries whose teams have qualified for the 2026 World Cup may not otherwise receive visa appointments in time for the tournament.
US State Department has stressed that a Fifa Pass appointment does not guarantee a visa will be approved, with all ticket holders having to “undergo thorough security screening and vetting”.
Most citizens of countries under the US visa waiver programme, which covers much of Europe, including the UK, along with Japan, Australia and others, can ordinarily travel visa-free for up to 90 days, so do not need to use the Fifa Pass. Travellers from those countries would need to apply instead for an Esta – an Electronic System for Travel Authorization.
A senior State Department official said the new Fifa Pass system will cut wait times – with applicants in “over 80%” of countries now able to schedule a visa appointment in “less that 60 days”.
It added: “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. America’s safety and the security of our borders will always come first.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the organization expected “between 5 and 10 million people coming to America from… all over the world to enjoy the World Cup.”
“With this FIFA Pass, we can make sure that those who buy a ticket that are legitimate football fans, or soccer fans… they can come and attend the World Cup in the best conditions – starting from getting their visa and then coming, of course, in the country to enjoy,” Infantino said in the Oval Office.
Trump strongly encouraged World Cup ticketholders from around the world to apply for their U.S. visas “right away.”