On Monday, President Donald Trump said the United States will expedite visas for foreign visitors holding tickets to next year’s FIFA World Cup. The tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, kicks off on June 11 and runs till July 19 across 11 American cities.
Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, explained that Washington will create a dedicated scheduling system giving priority access to visa-interview slots for ticket-holding fans. The idea is to avoid a last-minute rush at embassies and consulates as the World Cup approaches.
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He was emphatic that multiple US agencies had been working together to make the process smoother and "to ensure that soccer fans from all around the world are properly vetted and able to come to the US next summer easily."
The POTUS also claimed his administration had already accelerated visa processing globally, saying the current wait time in most countries is now 60 days or fewer. He also added that the World Cup could generate $30 billion and help create 200,000 jobs in the US.
US opens priority visa lane for millions of football fans
"The US is offering prioritised appointments so fans can complete their visa interviews and show they qualify," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted, adding that 400 new consular officers had been deployed.
Notably, at the White House briefing, FIFA President Gianni Infantino estimated that 5 million to 10 million people could travel to the US during the tournament.
FIFA later added that ticket demand has already exploded, with over one million tickets purchased by fans from 212 countries. They also noted that the ticket holders will receive detailed instructions about the priority visa-appointment system in early 2026.
