Overview
- Announced at a Nov. 17 White House meeting with President Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the program prioritizes interview scheduling for verified ticket‑holders planning to attend U.S. matches.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that a match ticket does not confer entry, urging fans to apply promptly as standard screening remains in place and some waits could still reach about eight weeks.
- State Department officials said more than 400 additional consular officers have been deployed worldwide and that a dedicated FIFA portal will manage priority appointment requests, with further guidance expected in early 2026.
- The 2026 tournament expands to 48 teams across the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the U.S. set to host 78 matches including the final at MetLife Stadium.
- Most of the field is now set after November qualifiers, with first‑time or returning entrants such as Curaçao, Haiti and Scotland; six remaining berths will be decided in March 2026 playoffs, and FIFA reports more than 1 million tickets sold so far as the Dec. 5 final draw approaches.