President Donald Trump, alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, announced a new visa scheduling system called FIFA PASS at the White House on Monday to prepare for the massive influx of visitors expected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The new system, officially named FIFA’s Prioritized Appointment Scheduling System, is designed to significantly reduce visa wait times for ticket-holders traveling to the United States for the tournament. Infantino projected that “between five and 10 million people” will be traveling to the U.S. for the competition, underscoring the necessity of the streamlined process.
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For applicants in countries like Brazil and Argentina, who previously faced wait times of over a year, the new system aims to process applications in less than two months in 80% of countries. To handle the accelerated demand, the Trump administration has added 400 consular officers. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, cautioned that while the system guarantees an expedited appointment, a ticket is not a visa and does not guarantee admission.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says FIFA match tickets are not visas, stressing that international fans must still undergo standard vetting and should apply early to secure entry for the 2026 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/VGBjFEdJEy
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All applicants will undergo the same rigorous security vetting process; the system’s sole purpose is to move them up in the queue. The high-demand tournament has already seen tickets purchased in over 212 countries.
