United States: an accelerated visa application procedure for 2026 World Cup ticket holders

Ticket holders for the 2026 World Cup (78 of the 104 matches will take place in 11 cities in the USA) will benefit from priority interview slots in order to speed up the process of obtaining a visa to enter the United States, according to FIFA on 17/11/2025.

Piloted by the US State Department, this scheme (called FIFA Pass) will be deployed from the beginning of 2026. It will be offered to fans living in countries where prior interviews are required to obtain a visa, while fans from countries participating in the Visa Waiver Programme (including France) will be able to apply online via the existing Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA).

"The announcement represents a major milestone in the build-up to the FIFA World Cup underscoring the close collaboration between FIFA and the White House Task Force in delivering a truly groundbreaking global event," said FIFA, which added that the competition is expected to generate an economic impact of $47bn (€40.5bn) in the United States, according to a study conducted with the World Trade Organization.

In total, more than 6 million…