Overview
- Priority scheduling applies only to holders of official tickets for matches hosted in the United States and does not constitute a visa or guarantee entry.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said more than 400 additional consular officers have been deployed, with roughly 80% of posts able to offer appointments within 60 days.
- Applicants will face the same vetting and eligibility checks as other travelers, and those from Visa Waiver Program countries should continue to use ESTA where applicable.
- FIFA and U.S. authorities will publish operational guidance and user steps in early 2026, and prospective travelers are urged to request appointments as soon as they have tickets.
- The move addresses extraordinary demand for the expanded 2026 tournament—48 teams and 104 matches, including 78 in 11 U.S. cities—after long backlogs in some countries.