New FIFA PASS system gives World Cup ticket holders priority access to U.S. visa

Photo: The White House / Instagram

FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket holders travelling to the United States are now eligible for the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System, known as FIFA PASS. The new service was introduced at an event at the White House attended by U.S. President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other American officials.

During the announcement, Trump encouraged World Cup visitors planning trips to the United States to start the visa process “right away.” The program is designed to alleviate the appointment backlog in the lead-up to one of the world’s largest sporting events.

FIFA explained that the system gives every fan who purchases a match ticket the chance to secure a prioritized visa interview. “If you have a ticket for the World Cup, you can have prioritized appointments to get your visa,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Ticket holders will be able to access a dedicated FIFA portal that directs them through a streamlined process for a faster visa interview at the U.S. Department of State.

Photo: The White House / Instagram

Rubio said the government will still carry out standard security checks. “We are going to do the same vetting as anybody else would get,” he said. “The only difference here is, we’re moving them up in the queue.” He also noted that the administration has deployed more than 400 additional consular officers worldwide to meet rising demand for visas. According to the US Secretary of State, in approximately 80 percent of countries, travellers seeking a U.S. visa can already secure an appointment within 60 days.

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Following the announcement, FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the scale of preparations for the 2026 tournament. “America welcomes the World. We have always said that this will be the greatest and most inclusive FIFA World Cup in history – and the FIFA PASS service is a very concrete example of that,” he said. Infantino added that the United States is preparing to welcome fans “on an unprecedented scale” as North America gets ready to host the competition next June.

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