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African football fans planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup could soon secure US visa interview dates much faster, following a new initiative announced by President Donald Trump on Monday.
Speaking at the White House, Trump unveiled the FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (PASS), which will allow World Cup ticket holders facing long visa-appointment delays to request priority interview slots.
“The system will allow World Cup ticket-holders with long wait times to opt with FIFA for a prioritised interview,” Trump said. The 2026 tournament, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will stage most of its matches in American cities.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that priority scheduling does not mean automatic entry.
“Your ticket is not a visa; it doesn’t guarantee admission to the US,” Rubio said. “We’re going to do the same vetting as anybody else would get. The only difference here is we’re moving them up in the queue.” He added that priority applicants may secure interviews within six to eight weeks, compared with waits of several months.
Long Wait Times Have Threatened Fans’ Travel Plans
Many African countries—including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa—have grappled with long US visa-appointment delays, with some applicants waiting months for interview availability.
Some Latin American countries are facing even worse backlogs; in Colombia, wait times are currently about 11 months, according to US State Department data.
If these delays persist, many fans could risk receiving visa decisions after the tournament concludes.
FIFA Welcomes the Move
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who joined Trump and Rubio for the announcement, said the initiative would help ensure genuine supporters can attend the World Cup without unnecessary barriers.
“With this FIFA Pass, we can make sure that those who buy a ticket, that are legitimate football fans, can come and attend the World Cup in the best conditions, starting from getting their visa,” Infantino said. He estimated that as many as 10 million visitors could travel to the US for the event.
Industry Applauds Policy Shift
The US Travel Association welcomed the policy, calling it a balance of efficiency and security.
“This is the kind of practical action that strengthens security, increases capacity and cuts wait times,” said CEO Geoff Freeman.
Uncertainty for Fans From Travel-Ban Countries
Questions remain over how PASS will apply to nationals from the 12 countries currently under US travel restrictions, including Iran, whose national team has qualified for the tournament.
While Trump’s executive order provides exemptions for athletes and officials attending global sporting events, ordinary fans from affected countries may still face barriers despite holding match tickets.
Visa-Free Travellers Unaffected
Citizens of countries under the US Visa Waiver Programme—including the UK, Japan, Australia, and most of Europe—will continue to enter the US without a visa for stays up to 90 days.
A Different Approach From Russia and Qatar
The policy marks a departure from the systems used at the last two World Cups. In Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022), fans automatically received a Fan ID, which functioned like a visa once a match ticket was purchased. The US has opted not to adopt a similar model.
