Football fans heading to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may soon breathe a sigh of relief, as U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have announced a new expedited entry system tagged the “FIFA Pass.”
The initiative, revealed during a joint briefing, is designed to cut down visa wait times for ticket-holding fans hoping to watch matches live across U.S. cities.

Under the new system, visitors with verified match tickets will be given priority scheduling for their tourist visa appointments. Although the process itself remains unchanged, applicants under the FIFA Pass route will no longer wait months before seeing a consular officer.
Officials describe the plan as a “special lane” created to ease the anticipated immigration surge ahead of the global tournament.

However, authorities were quick to clarify that owning a match ticket does not guarantee approval into the United States. All applicants must still undergo thorough screening and security clearance before receiving a visa.
Trump emphasized that the new structure is strictly to help speed up processing, not to bypass immigration security laws.

Despite the announcement, both Trump and Infantino urged fans not to rely solely on the new privilege, warning that last-minute applications may still result in disappointment.
The FIFA boss stressed that with millions expected to travel, early planning remains “the smartest way to avoid avoidable frustration.”

The 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is projected to be the largest in history, and the FIFA Pass is one of several accommodations being rolled out to manage unprecedented fan traffic.
Football enthusiasts around the world are now gearing up to secure tickets and take advantage of the new pathway before appointment slots vanish.