WASHINGTON—The Trump administration on Nov. 17 unveiled a way for 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket holders abroad to get prioritized visa interviews to come to the United States.
The FIFA prioritized appointment scheduling system will allow those attending the World Cup to get an interview sooner than it would take for an average visa holder.
“Since the creation of the White House FIFA Task Force earlier this year, Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio’s team at the State Department has worked tirelessly with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that soccer fans from all around the world are properly vetted and able to come to the United States next summer easily,” President Donald Trump said in the Oval Office during a meeting of the task force.
The average wait time for a visa is 60 days, so those attending the World Cup should “apply right away,” Trump said.
FIFA is expecting 5 million to 10 million fans to be in the United States for the World Cup, with 5 million to 7 million tickets sold by next year, according to the organization’s president, Gianni Infantino.
“With this FIFA Pass, we can make sure that those who buy a ticket that are legitimate football fans or soccer fans, they can come and attend the World Cup in the best conditions, starting from getting their visa and then coming, of course, in the country to enjoy,” he said in the Oval Office.
The State Department has deployed more than 400 additional consular officers worldwide to process visas for those coming to the United States for the World Cup, according to Rubio. In about 80 percent of the world, an appointment can be held within 60 days, he said.
“If you haven’t done so as soon as possible, don’t wait till the last minute. Your ticket is not a visa. Doesn’t guarantee admission to the U.S,” Rubio said in the Oval Office.
“It guarantees you an expedited appointment. You’re still going to go through the same vetting. We’re going to do the same vetting as anybody else would get. The only difference here is we’re moving them up in the queue.”
The World Cup is expected to create 200,000 jobs in the United States and generate $30 billion, according to Trump.
In Washington, the Kennedy Center will host on Dec. 5 the drawing of which countries play each other and where. There will be 48 teams, up from 32.
In addition to the United States, the World Cup will be held in Canada and Mexico.
In the United States, the games will be played in Boston; Philadelphia; Atlanta; New Jersey; Kansas City, Missouri; Miami, Dallas; Los Angeles; Seattle; Houston; and Santa Clara, California.
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