African football fans hoping to travel for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may soon get US visa appointments faster, after President Donald Trump announced that embassies will prioritise applicants with match tickets.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, President Trump said the new FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (PASS) will “allow World Cup ticket-holders with long wait times to opt with FIFA for a prioritised interview”.
The 2026 World Cup—set for June and July—will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the majority of matches taking place in American cities.
Priority appointments, not automatic visas
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the initiative does not mean automatic entry for ticket holders.
“Your ticket is not a visa; it doesn’t guarantee admission to the US,” Rubio said. “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.”
hRubio added that fans who secure priority status could get an interview date within six to eight weeks, instead of waiting many months.
Long visa delays affecting African and global fans
Many African countries—including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa—have experienced long wait times for US visa appointments, with some applicants waiting several months for interview slots.
Several Latin American countries face even longer delays. In Colombia, for example, appointment wait times are currently around 11 months, according to US State Department data.
If such delays persist, fans from affected countries could miss the tournament entirely—receiving visa decisions long after the World Cup trophy has been lifted.
FIFA supports the move
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who joined Trump and Rubio during the announcement, said the new system will make travel easier for genuine football supporters.
“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,” Infantino said.
He estimated that up to 10 million visitors could travel to the US for the global event.
Industry welcomes the initiative
The US Travel Association praised the decision, saying it will “add needed efficiency without sacrificing security”.
“This is the kind of practical action that strengthens security, increases capacity and cuts wait times,” said CEO Geoff Freeman.
Uncertainty for fans from US travel-ban countries
It remains unclear whether ticket holders from countries currently under US travel restrictions will benefit from PASS.
President Trump’s June executive order bans nationals from 12 countries— including Iran, whose national team has qualified for the tournament. While athletes and officials are exempted for the World Cup and Olympics, ordinary fans may still be affected.
Visa-free travellers unaffected
Citizens of countries under the US Visa Waiver Programme—such as the UK, Japan, Australia, and many European nations—can still travel visa-free for up to 90 days.
Different from Russia and Qatar
Unlike the last two World Cups in Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022), where a match ticket automatically generated a Fan ID used like a visa, the US will not adopt the same system.
