US prioritising visa appointments for World Cup international ticket holders

The United States (US) is gearing up to host the largest FIFA World Cup in history - with 48 countries - and rolling out the welcome mat for soccer fans from around the globe.

According to a release posted on its embassies' global website, for those international fans who need a US visa, US embassies and consulates worldwide are making more than two million additional visa interview appointments available.

Hundreds of additional staff have been deployed worldwide to meet demand, and, thanks to these efforts, visa wait-times have dropped dramatically.

For example, fans in Brazil and Argentina who once faced yearlong waits can now schedule interviews in under 60 days. The same is true in over 80 per cent of the world.

FIFA PASS

To give every single person who buys a ticket directly from FIFA and opts in for the chance for a visa interview, the Donald Trump administration is offering something really special -- the FIFA priority appointment scheduling system (FIFA PASS).

FIFA PASS will allow ticket holders to access prioritised appointments so that they can schedule visa interviews before the World Cup begins. Then the applicants must show they qualify for the visa and plan to follow US laws and leave at the end of the tournament. America's safety and the security of its borders will ALWAYS come first.

This effort, the release said, reflects America's dedication to welcoming visitors while maintaining the highest standards of security.

"Hundreds of millions of international fans from Canada and the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries are eligible to travel to the United States visa-free. An additional 55 million foreigners currently hold a US visitor visa with which they could travel for FIFA World Cup events. And the United States is well prepared to process visa applications for those fans who need visas," the release said.

"At the same time, US officials are keeping America and the tournament safe by ensuring every prospective traveller to the US undergoes extensive security vetting."

Fans in need of a visa should apply now at FIFA World Cup 2026(tm) - United States Department of State.