The Trump administration has unveiled a new program called “FIFA Pass” to expedite visa interviews for international visitors attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This initiative will facilitate faster visa appointment scheduling for individuals who have purchased World Cup tickets through FIFA.The program aims to balance strict immigration policies while accommodating the anticipated surge of international travellers for the soccer tournament. The term “pass” in the program name represents “prioritised appointments scheduling system.” “If you have a ticket for the World Cup, you can have prioritised appointments to get your visa. You said it the very first time we met, Mr. President, America welcomes the world,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino during his Oval Office meeting with Trump.“I strongly encourage World Cup travellers to the U.S. to apply for their visas right away,” Trump said Monday. The State Department has deployed over 400 additional consular officers globally to manage visa applications. Currently, about 80 percent of global travellers can secure a visa appointment within 60 days. The new system allows ticket holders who purchased through FIFA to access a special portal for expedited visa application processing and interview scheduling with the State Department.“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,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.The World Cup will feature 104 matches across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Trump has prioritised the tournament’s success, with Infantino making frequent White House visits ahead of the December 5 World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center. Trump discussed the possibility of relocating World Cup matches from Seattle, one of the 11 U.S. host cities, citing concerns about the election of progressive activist Katie Wilson as mayor and the city’s sanctuary status for migrants.“If we think there’s gonna be sign of any trouble, I would ask Gianni to move that to a different city,” Trump said regarding Seattle.“I think safety and security is the number one priority for a successful World Cup. We can see today that people have trust in the United States,” Infantino responded, highlighting strong ticket sales while avoiding direct comments about relocating host cities.
