Trump announces ‘FIFA Pass’ visa system for millions of World Cup fans traveling to the United States in 2026
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President Donald Trump hosted another White House task force meeting on FIFA ahead of next year’s World Cup in North America, and a new initiative will be rolled out for ticket holders entering the United States.
The FIFA task force announced a new system that would allow World Cup ticket holders to receive priority interviews for visas.
Trump spoke about what is called FIFA Pass while standing next to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. In announcing the Prioritized Appointment Scheduling System, Trump also noted that the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security have been working “tirelessly” to “ensure that soccer fans around the world are properly screened and can easily come to the United States next summer.”
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President Trump, seen with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, FIFA Senior Advisor for Global Strategy and Governance Carlos Cordeiro, and Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill., delivers remarks during a White House Task Force meeting on the 2026 FIFA World Cup on November 17, 2025, at the White House in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
“I have directed my administration to do everything in its power to make the 2026 World Cup an unprecedented success. I believe it will be the biggest and we are setting records in ticket sales,” Trump added.
Infantino added that FIFA expects “between five and 10 million people to come to America from… all over the world to enjoy the World Cup” next year.
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“With this FIFA Pass, we can ensure that those who buy a ticket and are legitimate football fans, or soccer fans… can come and attend the World Cup in the best conditions, starting with getting their visa and then coming, of course, to the country to enjoy,” Infantino said in the Oval Office.
Trump strongly encouraged World Cup ticket holders around the world to apply for their US visas “immediately.”
President Trump speaks during a meeting with the White House Task Force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup on November 17, 2025, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. (Brendan Smialowski/News)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also present in the Oval Office and told reporters that “more than 400 additional consular officers” have been deployed to embassies around the world to handle World Cup-related visa applications.
“Our advice to everyone is: if you have a ticket for any of the games, you should request it as soon as possible. If you have not done so as soon as possible, do not wait until the last minute,” Rubio said. “Your ticket is not a visa; it does not guarantee admission to the US. It guarantees you an expedited appointment.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and President Trump pose during a summit on Gaza in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on October 13, 2025. (Yoan Valat/Pool/News)
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According to Infantino, the World Cup, which will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States, is expected to attract six billion viewers worldwide. He also expects one billion people to watch the World Cup draw on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
The News contributed to this report.
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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for News Digital.