soccer-players-action-professional-stadium

FIFA PASS Explained: How to Get Your Priority US Visa Access for the 2026 World Cup

Last updated: Jun 22, 2026

Table of Contents

What Is FIFA PASS?

FIFA PASS is a free, voluntary system that gives World Cup 2026 ticket holders priority access to U.S. visa interview appointments.

It stands for FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System and was created specifically for international fans who need a B1/B2 visitor visa to enter the United States.

The system does not change U.S. visa rules or waive any requirements. It simply helps ticket holders skip the long wait times that many embassies are experiencing ahead of the tournament.

Do You Actually Need FIFA PASS?

Not everyone does.

Here is who does and doesn’t need it:

You do NOT need FIFA PASS if you hold a passport from one of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries (including the UK, Japan, South Korea, Australia, most EU nations, and Qatar). Apply for an ESTA directly instead — it costs USD 40.27 and is done entirely online.
You do NOT need FIFA PASS if you are a Canadian or Bermudan passport holder. You can enter the U.S. as a tourist without a visa or ESTA.
You do NOT need FIFA PASS if you already hold a valid B1/B2 U.S. visitor visa.
You DO need FIFA PASS if you are from a country that requires a U.S. visa interview and you are facing long appointment wait times. This includes fans from most of the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

If your country has open visa appointment slots available, the U.S. Department of State recommends applying directly rather than using FIFA PASS.

How to Apply Through FIFA PASS

The process has three steps, and you must already hold a valid FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket purchased directly from FIFA.

Tickets from resellers or secondary markets do not qualify.

Here is the step-by-step process according to the U.S. Department of State FAQ:

Step 1 — Opt in to FIFA PASS. Log into your FIFA.com account and submit the FIFA PASS opt-in form.
Step 2 — Complete your visa application. Select your country of nationality or residence, fill out the online DS-160 visa application form, upload a current photo, and pay the visa fee.
Step 3 — Schedule your interview. Wait at least one hour after submitting your FIFA PASS opt-in form before scheduling your appointment. When booking your visa appointment, answer “Yes” when asked if you are a FIFA ticket holder. If your FIFA PASS details match your DS-160, you will see priority appointment slots.

Your name and passport number must match exactly across three places: your passport, your DS-160 form, and your visa appointment system profile. Even a small mismatch (like a missing middle name) can lock you out of priority slots.

FIFA PASS does not guarantee you will get a visa.

You still go through the same screening, security checks, and eligibility requirements as every other applicant. It only gives you faster access to an interview appointment.

Entry Requirements for All Three Host Countries

There is no single visa that covers all three host nations.

If you plan to attend matches in more than one country, you may need separate travel documents for the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

United States (78 matches, including quarterfinals onward)

The U.S. hosts the bulk of the tournament, including the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July 2026. Entry requirements depend on your nationality:

Visa Waiver Program citizens (42 countries): Apply for an ESTA online — no embassy visit needed. Costs USD 40.27 and allows stays of up to 90 days.
All other nationalities: Apply for a B1/B2 visitor visa at your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Use FIFA PASS if wait times are long.
Passport validity: Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay, unless your country is exempt from this rule.

Canada (13 matches, including Toronto)

Canada’s official guidance says fans enter as regular tourists — there is no special World Cup visa. Your requirements depend on your passport:

Visa-exempt countries: Apply for an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) online. It costs CAD 7 and is usually approved within minutes.
Visa-required countries: Apply for a Canadian visitor visa (Temporary Resident Visa). Processing times vary from weeks to months depending on your country, so apply early.

When filling out your eTA application, type “FIFA World Cup 26” in the free-text space under Background Questions. A match ticket does not guarantee entry — Canadian border officers make the final decision.

Mexico (13 matches, including the opening match)

The tournament kicks off at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 11 June 2026. Many nationalities can enter Mexico visa-free for tourism.

If your country requires a Mexican visa, apply at the nearest Mexican consulate well in advance.

Fans who hold a valid U.S. visa, Canadian permanent residence, or a Schengen visa can often enter Mexico without a separate Mexican visa — but check the Mexican immigration authority (INM) website to confirm your eligibility.

If You’re Based in the Gulf or Middle East: What to Know Right Now

As of April 2026, getting a U.S. visa appointment from the Gulf or wider Middle East is significantly harder than usual, and time is running out before the tournament starts on 11 June.

The U.S.–Iran conflict that escalated in March 2026 forced the U.S. Department of State to close or scale back embassy operations across the region.

Saudi Arabia: The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and all U.S. consulates in the kingdom suspended all routine consular services, with only limited emergency services for American citizens.
UAE and Qatar: U.S. missions in Abu Dhabi and Doha were reported operating on skeleton staff under shelter-in-place orders as of mid-March 2026, with routine visa processing severely limited.
Kuwait: The U.S. Embassy placed staff under shelter-at-home directives, with visa services expected to be suspended.
Jordan: Routine appointments at the U.S. Embassy in Amman became unavailable for the foreseeable future.

Be warned that even once embassies fully reopen, backlogs will be severe, since interview calendars were already stretched into late summer before the closures began.

What this means for FIFA PASS

FIFA PASS gives you priority access to interview slots, but only if your local embassy is actually processing visa appointments.

If your embassy has suspended routine services or is operating at reduced capacity, there may be no priority slots available to book, regardless of your FIFA PASS status.

A FIFA PASS appointment also does not exempt you from any travel restrictions or security screening.

The U.S. Embassy in the UAE has confirmed that holding a World Cup ticket does not guarantee visa approval.

Options to consider

If you are a Gulf- or Middle East-based fan with tickets and no U.S. visa, here are some practical steps:

Monitor your local U.S. embassy’s website and social media daily. Operational status changes quickly and individual posts may resume services before a central announcement is made. Follow the embassy’s official social channels rather than relying solely on the State Department’s central website.
Consider applying at a third-country U.S. embassy. The State Department allows applicants to schedule visa appointments at embassies outside their country of residence. If a post in Europe or Southeast Asia has shorter wait times and is processing FIFA PASS appointments, this may be a faster path, though you will need to travel there in person for the interview.
Look at Canada and Mexico group-stage matches. If a U.S. visa is not realistic in time, Canada and Mexico each host 13 matches. Their visa processes are separate from the U.S. and may be more accessible. Canada’s eTA is online-only for visa-exempt nationals, and many Gulf passport holders can enter Mexico using a valid Schengen or Canadian visa.
Check if you qualify for ESTA. Qatar is part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program — Qatari passport holders can apply for an ESTA entirely online and do not need an embassy appointment at all.
Do not wait. With the tournament starting 11 June 2026, the window for visa processing is narrowing fast. Even under normal conditions, B1/B2 processing can take weeks. If your embassy resumes services, act immediately.

This situation is evolving rapidly. Check the U.S. Department of State’s FIFA World Cup 2026 visa page for the latest guidance.

Practical Tips for World Cup Travellers

Start your visa applications now — not next month. Embassy wait times in countries across South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa can stretch for months, and demand is only increasing as the tournament approaches.

Here are the key things to keep in mind:

Tickets are mobile-only. All World Cup 2026 tickets are delivered digitally through the official FIFA World Cup 2026 app. There are no print-at-home tickets or static PDFs.
You need a FIFA ID to buy tickets. Create one at FIFA.com/tickets — you must be at least 18 to purchase tickets.
Last-minute tickets are still available. The Last-Minute Sales Phase opened on 1 April 2026 and runs through the end of the tournament. Tickets are first-come, first-served and confirmed immediately.
Budget for the 15% service fee. All FIFA ticket prices are subject to an additional 15% service fee at checkout.
Compare flights early on Wego. With matches spread across 16 cities — from Seattle to Miami, Los Angeles to Boston — booking flights and hotels early can save you significant money.
Double-check every detail. Your name and passport number must match exactly on your passport, your DS-160 form (for U.S. entry), your FIFA ticket account, and your FIFA PASS opt-in form. Mismatches cause delays.

For U.S. matches, popular host cities include New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Boston. Use Wego’s flight tracker to monitor route availability and prices.

Sources

Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.