The US launches FIFA PASS — priority visa interviews for 2026 World Cup fans

Just over four months before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the US and FIFA are launching a new mechanism for ticket-holding fans: FIFA PASS (FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System). The idea is simple: ticket holders will be able to access priority slots for visa interviews before the tournament begins. Vetting and requirements remain standard — the programme speeds up scheduling but doesn't ease screening.

Participation is voluntary and primarily aimed at countries where the wait for a US consular interview is currently especially long: there, priority slots could be decisive in making it to the matches in time.

How it works in practice

The FIFA PASS mechanism relies on matching data between a FIFA account and the visa application:

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1. The fan logs into their FIFA.com account and completes the FIFA PASS opt-in form.
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2. They then go through the standard visa process: choosing the country of application (citizenship or residence), completing the DS-160, uploading a current photo, and paying the consular fee.
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3. When booking the interview, they answer "Yes" to the question about holding a ticket. If the FIFA PASS form data matches the visa application data, the system unlocks access to a FIFA PASS Appointment (priority scheduling).
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Important caveat: booking through FIFA PASS itself does not guarantee visa issuance. The interview, vetting, and the need to prove eligibility for the visa are the same as for any applicant.

Who really needs FIFA PASS, and who barely does

The programme is primarily for those who need to get a US visa and go through a mandatory interview — for example, citizens of Russia and many CIS countries (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, etc.). The main risk here is missing out due to interview queues, and FIFA PASS provides exactly that — access to expedited scheduling.

For Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries, FIFA PASS is usually secondary: for a trip to the US of up to 90 days for tourism or business, an ESTA and compliance with visa-free entry rules are enough. The programme includes many EU countries, as well as the UK, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Singapore, Chile, Qatar, and others.

In simple terms: for VWP travellers, the "bottleneck" isn't the consulate — it's having an ESTA submitted in advance and meeting entry conditions.

Tournament context

The 2026 World Cup will be the first with 48 teams and will be held across 16 cities in Canada, Mexico, and the US. The US will host 78 of the 104 matches, including the final at MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey). FIFA expects to sell more than six million tickets and calls FIFA PASS a step toward ensuring international fans can complete paperwork and travel to the tournament without timing setbacks.

Visa and border entry requirements can vary by situation; before applying, it's worth checking the current rules and entry conditions for your nationality and country of application.