FIFA and the U.S. government have introduced a new expedited visa appointment system for international ticket holders ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, an acknowledgment of mounting concern that immigration restrictions, geopolitical tensions and public-health fears could complicate travel to one of the world's largest sporting events.
The program, called the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System, or FIFA PASS, will allow verified fans who purchase tickets directly through FIFA to access prioritized interview appointments for B1 and B2 U.S. visas.
The initiative comes as Washington faces increasing scrutiny over whether its immigration policies under Donald Trump could discourage or delay attendance from supporters traveling from Africa, the Middle East and parts of Latin America.
Fans from countries including Iran, Senegal, Haiti and Ivory Coast are already navigating heightened travel complications tied to existing visa restrictions and enhanced entry scrutiny.
Meanwhile, supporters from Democratic Republic of the Congo face separate uncertainty after a recent Ebola outbreak triggered additional health concerns and travel restrictions across parts of Central Africa.
FIFA confirmed that all fans attending matches in the United States must still hold a valid passport along with either an approved travel authorization or a valid visa, regardless of whether they receive priority interview access.
The U.S. State Department emphasized that the fast-track system does not bypass security reviews or eligibility standards.
"All ticket holders must still undergo standard screening and demonstrate eligibility for a visa," officials said.
The rollout reflects broader anxiety surrounding how the United States will manage millions of international visitors during a tournament spread across the U.S., Canada and Mexico at a time of heightened global political tensions and increasingly restrictive border policies.
For months, immigration advocates and international fan groups have questioned whether Trump administration measures - including expanded vetting requirements and discussions around mandatory social-media disclosures - could deter attendance or create unequal access for supporters from certain countries.
Earlier this year, the State Department also explored a proposal that would have required some visitors from designated countries to post visa bonds of up to $15,000 before entering the United States.
That proposal was suspended earlier this month.
According to NPR, U.S. officials estimated the bond requirement initially would have affected approximately 250 travelers, though the figure was expected to evolve as World Cup ticket sales increased and travel plans became clearer.
The controversy surrounding entry requirements intensified further after human-rights organizations issued warnings tied directly to the tournament.
Amnesty International and several advocacy groups released what they described as a "World Cup travel advisory," citing concerns over immigration enforcement, civil liberties and what they characterized as growing authoritarian tendencies in the United States.
In its March report, Humanity Must Win: Defending Rights, Tackling Repression at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Amnesty argued that risks tied to the tournament extend beyond fans and could affect journalists, migrant workers, activists and local communities.
The report stated that "the world's biggest sporting event carries major risks not only for fans, but also for players, journalists, workers and local communities alike."
The organization also criticized what it described as a lack of explicit guarantees from FIFA, host cities and U.S. authorities regarding protections against ethnic profiling, indiscriminate immigration raids, detention or deportation during the tournament period.
An Amnesty analysis of federal immigration data estimated that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection deported more than 500,000 people last year - a figure the organization noted would be enough to fill MetLife Stadium, the planned venue for the 2026 World Cup final, nearly eight times over.
