The administration of US President Donald Trump has introduced a new initiative aimed at expediting the visa process for all visitors planning to travel to the United States for the 2026 World Cup taking place next summer (from June 11 to July 19).
The new program, called "FIFA Pass", will enable faster visa appointments for people who have purchased official event tickets through FIFA, eliminating the need for an interview in some cases.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who met with Trump in the Oval Office, explained how the new system works.
"If you have a ticket for the World Cup, you can have priority visa slots," Infantino said during the presentation.
President Trump urged all travelers planning to attend the pageant to apply for a visa “as soon as possible.” Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the administration has added more than 400 consular officers around the world to cope with the influx of applications. According to him, in about 80% of countries, applicants can secure a visa appointment within 60 days.
The new “FIFA Portal” system will enable ticket holders to benefit from expedited procedures for visa applications and interviews at the State Department.
"Security checks will remain unchanged. The only innovation is that applicants related to the World Cup will be placed higher on the waiting list," Rubio concluded.