FIFA Pass: Joint White House Initiative Gives Priority Visa Processing to 2026 World Cup Ticket Holders

FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited the White House this week to unveil a new joint program with Donald Trump, officially named “FIFA Pass”, that will reserve priority visa appointment slots for 2026 World Cup ticket holders applying for entry to the United States.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Infantino outlined the core function of the new system: “FIFA Pass is a prioritized appointment scheduling system. If you have a ticket for the World Cup, you lock in an earlier priority appointment for your visa. You said it yourself at our very first meeting, Mr. President: America welcomes the world.”

Even with the strict travel restrictions the U.S. government implemented during Trump’s second term, the FIFA leader projects that between 5 and 10 million international visitors will travel to the U.S. for the tournament. “Through FIFA Pass, we can guarantee that legitimate football fans who have purchased their tickets can attend the World Cup on the best possible terms, starting with the visa application process,” he added.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also attended the announcement press conference, clarified that security vetting for FIFA Pass applicants will match the strict checks applied to all other visa seekers. “The only difference here is that we move these applicants up the queue,” Rubio explained.

Put simply, a valid World Cup ticket does not guarantee visa approval, nor does it reduce the required visa application fee. The only benefit is a shortened wait time for an in-person interview with a U.S. consular officer. Rubio estimates that FIFA Pass participants will wait just six to eight weeks to secure their interview slot.

How Does the FIFA Pass Work?

To qualify for the expedited priority service, applicants must first purchase a ticket for 2026 World Cup matches hosted in the United States through official FIFA channels. Next, ticket holders log into a dedicated FIFA online portal, which will guide them through every step of the priority visa application process.

To handle the expected surge in tourist visa demand ahead of the tournament, Rubio noted the U.S. State Department has deployed more than 400 additional consular officers across global posts. Currently, 80% of U.S. embassies and consulates can offer approved applicants an appointment within 60 days, he confirmed.

Shortly after the FIFA Pass announcement at the same press conference, Trump made separate foreign policy comments: he stated he is prepared to launch military strikes against Mexico and Colombia to curb international drug trafficking, and added that he has not ruled out the option of deploying U.S. troops to Venezuelan territory.

This report was originally published in WIRED en Español, and has been translated from Spanish.