The 2026 World Cup is getting closer and closer, and it will be the largest in history with 48 countries competing in the tournament to be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. However, fans and people who want to attend the World Cup face the obstacle of the visa process in order to gain access to US soil, so the US government has decided to take action.
For this reason, President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino made a joint announcement from Washington that completely changes the planning of the tournament. They presented a new mechanism of priority attention for fans with tickets that aims to streamline procedures and ensure orderly visitors to the World Cup.
What is the FIFA Pass? The new system that streamlines visas for the 2026 World Cup
The so-called FIFA Pass is a tool to reduce the waiting times for tourist visa applications, especially in countries where demand is too high. According to Gianni Infantino, those who already have tickets for the matches “will have priority to get the visa”, something that the FIFA president celebrated as an organizational milestone:
The United States is opening the door to the world. We have always said that this will be the biggest and most inclusive World Cup, and this service is a concrete example of that
This makes it easier for people with tickets to get an appointment at the embassy with less waiting time, especially in countries where the appointment can take between six months and a year, now the process is expected to take a maximum of 60 days.
Trump promises ‘historic’ change and says World Cup will generate unprecedented economic impact
During the announcement, Donald Trump highlighted the economic magnitude of the tournament and the importance of facilitating the entry into the United States of all soccer fans:
The World Cup is coming, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
The US president praised the agreement with FIFA and stressed that it is a boost for tourism and the economy of the United States, in which it projects revenues of more than 30 billion dollars during the 2026 World Cup.
FIFA Pass will be implemented just days before the World Cup draw, which will take place on December 5, 2025, a date on which the fate of the participating teams will be known and which will formally begin the road to the largest World Cup in history.
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