The administration of Donald Trump announced on Tuesday a new special visa mechanism for foreign travelers coming to the United States for the World Cup of 2026.
The program, named "FIFA Pass," will allow those who purchase official tournament tickets to obtain expedited consular interviews to process their visas.
The FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, presented the system alongside the U.S. leader in the Oval Office. “If you have a ticket for the World Cup, you can have priority appointments to obtain your visa,” he stated, according to AP.
Addressing Trump, he added: “You said it from our first meeting: America welcomes the world.”
A priority pass to ease migration pressure
The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, explained that the purpose of the FIFA Pass is to expedite the procedures for the expected large influx of travelers for the tournament, without changing the usual verification standards: “We will conduct the same review as we do for anyone else. The difference is that we will move these applicants to the front of the line.”
To address the increase in applications, the Trump administration claims to have deployed over 400 additional consular officers. According to Rubio, in 80% of countries it is already possible to obtain a visa appointment in less than 60 days.
The system will operate through a FIFA portal, which will only be accessible to verified ticket buyers. From there, they will be able to request that their interview with the State Department be scheduled with priority.
Trump, for his part, encouraged travelers to "apply for the visa immediately."
A World Cup in a tense political climate
The 2026 tournament —with 104 matches distributed across the United States, Mexico, and Canada— is considered a priority for the Trump administration, which maintains a hardened immigration stance but seeks to avoid logistical hurdles during the largest sporting event on the planet.
Infantino has been a frequent visitor to the White House in recent months as final details for the official World Cup draw are being finalized, scheduled for December 5 at the Kennedy Center, now led by allies of the U.S. president.
During the announcement, Trump again suggested that he might withdraw events from any host city he deems unsafe. He specifically mentioned Seattle, where the election of progressive activist Katie Wilson as mayor—an advocate for "sanctuary city" status—has created tensions with the White House.
“If we see signs of problems, I would ask Gianni to move the venue to another city,” he stated. Infantino avoided confirming such a possibility but emphasized that “safety is the number one priority” of FIFA and that “the world trusts the United States,” pointing to the strong ticket sales.
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