FIFA PASS is designed specifically for fans who have purchased official tickets for matches that will be played in the United States. Participation is voluntary and requires a clear link between the applicant’s identity and their ticket purchase. In practice, interested travelers must register through FIFA’s official channels and enroll in the program before proceeding with their visa process. When they later submit a nonimmigrant visa application, typically for the B-1/B-2 category used for tourism and short business trips, their enrollment and ticket details can enable access to priority appointment windows where available, potentially shortening the time needed to secure a consular interview.
Authorities have emphasized a key point: priority access to an interview does not guarantee visa approval. All applicants remain subject to the same immigration law standards, documentary requirements, and security screening procedures as any other traveler. Consular officers will still evaluate each case individually, and applicants must demonstrate they meet the criteria for a temporary visit, including credible travel intent and sufficient ties that indicate they will return to their home country after the trip.
The announcement of FIFA PASS has been framed as part of broader coordination around the tournament’s logistics. The 2026 edition will be historic for its expanded format, featuring 48 national teams and 104 matches. Under the current hosting plan, the United States will stage the majority of games, and tournament organizers expect a massive influx of international visitors across multiple host cities. Against that backdrop, the priority appointment system functions as a pressure-release valve for visa processing, helping ticket holders who require visas align their documentation and travel plans with match schedules and accommodation bookings.
The initiative is especially relevant for travelers who are not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Citizens of VWP countries can generally travel to the United States for short stays without a visa, provided they obtain prior authorization through ESTA. FIFA PASS, however, is intended for those who must complete the traditional consular visa process, where interview capacity is often the limiting step. By targeting priority access to verified ticket holders, the program seeks to focus limited appointment resources on travelers with time-sensitive event plans, while maintaining standard processing channels for other applicants.
Beyond the fan experience, FIFA PASS also signals how governments and major sports organizations are adapting administrative systems for mega-events without reducing border controls. For the tourism and events sectors, the measure may have an immediate practical effect: earlier appointment availability can help visitors finalize flights, hotels, and internal transport with greater confidence. Even so, officials continue to recommend that travelers begin procedures as soon as possible, since demand for interviews is expected to intensify as the tournament approaches and appointment capacity varies by country and consular post.
FIFA PASS represents a targeted, ticket-linked fast-track for obtaining a visa interview appointment in the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup 2026, offering a planning advantage to eligible supporters while keeping the standard legal and security requirements for U.S. entry fully intact.
