US to speed up visa interviews for 2026 World Cup fans
As international fans prepare for the 2026 men’s World Cup, the US government is introducing a new system designed to ease visa bottlenecks that have frustrated travellers in many countries.
The initiative, announced at the White House on Monday, is aimed at helping ticket-holders secure interviews sooner, though officials stressed that security procedures will remain unchanged.
A shift in scheduling, not in vetting
The program, called the Fifa Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (Pass), will give fans an option to request earlier visa appointments at US embassies and consulates.
According to BBC reporting, President Donald Trump described Pass as a response to extraordinary demand ahead of the first World Cup hosted across three North American nations.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the system is intended to prevent months-long delays from keeping fans out of stadiums, but he cautioned that a match ticket does not influence the outcome of the visa review. “Your ticket is not a visa,” Rubio said, noting that all applicants will undergo the same checks as anyone else.
What changes, he added, is when fans are seen: some could receive interview slots within six to eight weeks.
Mounting pressure on embassies
For many travellers, the timing issue is more than an inconvenience. Some US embassies currently face wait times approaching, or exceeding, a year.
Data cited by the BBC from the US State Department shows wait estimates of about 11 months in Bogotá, nearly ten months in Mexico City, and more than a year for non-Canadian residents applying in Toronto.
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Those delays mean that, for fans in several countries, a visa decision might arrive long after the tournament’s final match.
Travel-industry groups have pushed the government for relief, arguing that the United States risks losing millions of visitors simply because they cannot secure an appointment in time.
Geoff Freeman, head of the US Travel Association, said the prioritization approach adds “needed efficiency without sacrificing security,” calling it a practical step ahead of what could be one of the largest tourism waves in US history.
Anticipated surge of visitors
The 2026 World Cup will span the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with most games hosted in American venues.
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Fifa President Gianni Infantino, who appeared alongside Trump and Rubio during the announcement, estimated that as many as 10 million people could travel to the US during the event. He said Pass should help ensure that fans who legitimately purchased tickets can “begin their journey with fewer administrative hurdles.”
Lingering questions over travel bans
One area still unclear is how Pass will apply to fans from countries facing US entry restrictions.
The BBC reported that a June executive order bars nationals from a dozen countries, including Iran, whose team has already qualified for the tournament.
That order exempts athletes and coaching staff for major sporting events, but not ordinary supporters. The State Department has not yet clarified whether Pass will change anything for those affected.
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A different approach than past host nations
Unlike Russia and Qatar, which issued special fan IDs that served as temporary entry documents, the United States is keeping its standard immigration rules in place.
Citizens from visa-waiver countries, such as Japan, most of Europe, Australia and the UK, will still be able to visit without a visa for short stays. For everyone else, the order in which interviews are scheduled may be the only element that shifts.
Sources: BBC reporting; US State Department data; US Travel Association.
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