Overview
- The program, announced Nov. 17, will begin in early 2026 and is limited to fans who purchased tickets through FIFA, who will access a State Department portal to request priority interviews.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said more than 400 additional consular officers have been deployed and about 80% of countries now offer visa appointments within 60 days, with many fans targeted for interviews in six to eight weeks.
- Officials emphasized that a match ticket only advances scheduling and does not assure visa approval or admission to the United States.
- President Trump highlighted security as a priority, floating the possibility of relocating matches from cities such as Seattle and offering federal resources, including the National Guard, to support hosts like Los Angeles.
- FIFA projected millions of attendees and said further implementation details will be provided to ticket-holders in early 2026, with the World Cup draw set for Dec. 5 in Washington, D.C.