US Prioritizes Visas for 2026 World Cup Ticket Holders

WASHINGTON DC, TUESDAY – The United States will prioritize visa issuance for individuals who have purchased tickets for the 2026 World Cup matches. Ticket holders will receive expedited interview times compared to the normal visa application process. This policy differs from that of Qatar 2022 and Russia 2018, which treated match tickets as equivalent to entry visas for those countries.

"The FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System will allow World Cup ticket holders to receive priority interviews," said Trump at the White House following a meeting with the 2026 World Cup Task Force and FIFA at the White House, Washington DC, Monday (17/11/2025) afternoon or Tuesday (18/11/2025) WIB.

The system is called “FIFA Pass.” The word “Pass” is an acronym for “prioritized appointment scheduling system.”

However, unlike the FIFA Pass in the previous two World Cups, Qatar 2022 and Russia 2018, the tickets that serve as the FIFA Pass already function as a visitor visa. Therefore, spectators no longer need to apply for a visa. Specifically for Qatar 2022, the match tickets also serve as a clearance for health documents that were previously required during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"If you already have a paid ticket, you can get a priority appointment to process your visa. As you mentioned since we met, Mr. President (Trump), America welcomes the world," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who attended the meeting held in the Oval Office of the White House at around 2:45 PM local time.

A match ticket is not a visa, it does not guarantee entry into the US.

Despite receiving priority, Trump urged anyone who already has a match ticket to register for visa processing as soon as possible. This is to avoid a surge in applications for US visit visas that is predicted to begin emerging in early 2026.

The 2026 World Cup will feature 104 matches in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This grand football event will take place from July 11 to July 19.

FIFA, through a statement from Infantino, predicts that the United States will welcome up to 10 million visitors during the 2026 World Cup. Based on this, Infantino wants every football fan to have optimal comfort while watching the matches of the world's football stars in North America.

"With this FIFA Pass, we can ensure that ticket holders, who are true football supporters, can come and attend the World Cup under the best conditions. This starts with obtaining their visas," said Infantino.

Infantino has been regularly visiting Trump at the White House. Most recently, he visited the White House last August. Infantino is likely to meet with Trump again during the group stage draw for the 2026 World Cup at the Kennedy Center, Washington DC, on December 5.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that having a match ticket and priority interview does not guarantee that an individual will obtain a U.S. visa. The FIFA Pass, he continued, will ensure an interview schedule at a U.S. embassy or consulate within a maximum period of 60 days from the visa application submission.

“A fight ticket is not a visa, it does not guarantee entry into the US,” Rubio said after the meeting.

Rubio assured that the examination of visa applicants' identities is not relaxed at all. This is in line with President Trump's policy of tightening the presence of immigrants in the United States.

"We'll do the same checks. The difference is we'll avoid having to wait in long lines," Rubio said.

Several countries with national teams that have already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup face a long waiting period for U.S. visas. One of them is Colombia, which on average requires a waiting time of up to 11 months for a U.S. visa interview. This refers to data released by the U.S. Department of State.

The average waiting time in Mexico City is 9.5 months. Meanwhile, non-Canadian residents living in Toronto must also wait up to 14 months to obtain a schedule for a US visa interview.

However, Washington DC has not yet issued an official statement regarding the planned arrival of Iranian supporters to support their team in the 2026 World Cup. Iran is among the countries banned from entering the United States based on Trump's policy last June.

Supporters from several European partner countries, including the United States, including England, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, will have an easier time supporting their national teams because they are countries covered by the US visa-waiver program. (AP/BBC)