Overview
- The program prioritizes interview scheduling only for people who bought tickets through FIFA, using a dedicated portal expected to open in early 2026.
- The State Department has deployed more than 400 additional consular officers worldwide, with wait times in many countries now under 60 days.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that a match ticket is not a visa and said interviews could be set within roughly six to eight weeks, urging applicants to apply promptly.
- The United States will host 78 of 104 matches across 11 cities in the expanded 48‑team tournament, with the group-stage draw scheduled for Dec. 5 in Washington, D.C.
- President Trump also floated moving matches from cities he deems unsafe, specifically mentioning Seattle, and offered federal resources to bolster local security.