America outlines passport, entry rules for soccer tournament attendees

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is poised to be the largest in the tournament's history, with 48 national teams competing across North America from June 11 to July 19, in a month-long event co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

n

The final match will be held at the New York/New Jersey venue, with other matches taking place in major cities such as Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Toronto, Vancouver, Mexico City, and Monterrey, among others, across 11 major US cities, two Canadian cities, and three Mexican cities.

n

With the tournament spanning an entire continent, massive global crowds are expected to attend, filling packed stadiums in the United States and watching key fixtures in Canada and Mexico.

n

International fans planning to attend the tournament must complete all necessary travel and visa requirements, as the US has emphasized that these requirements must be fulfilled to be part of the record-breaking global spectacle.

n

Nigeria will not be participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026, having lost out to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in qualification, and Nigerians, along with nationals of some other countries, are subject to limited entry into the United States under Presidential Proclamation 10998, effective since January 1, 2026.

n

In February, the Federal Government stated that it was engaging the United States through diplomatic channels to seek Nigeria's removal from the list of countries affected by Washington's recent immigrant visa restrictions, but three months later, there has been no visible change in the status of the policy, as the tournament is scheduled to begin on June 11.

n

This means that sports writers and football fans may face constraints, but they can still apply for visas under specified conditions, although eligibility for issuance or admission is not guaranteed, with different travel guidance available for countries such as Ghana.

n

President of the United States, Donald Trump, has expressed excitement about the tournament, saying, "This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase the beauty and the greatness of America, and we can't wait to welcome soccer fans from all over the globe."

n

To facilitate travel to the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Department of State has outlined step-by-step visa and travel requirements for fans, emphasizing that now is the time to apply for a US visa if needed.

n

The Department of State is committed to upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through its visa process, and foreign travelers planning to visit the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026 must ensure they have the correct travel documents.

n

All visitors traveling to the United States are required to have passports that are valid for six months beyond their intended stay, unless they are citizens of exempt countries, such as Canada and Bermuda, which do not require additional authorization to seek entry into the United States as tourists.

n

Foreign visitors from 42 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Programme can apply using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), while fans from other countries are required to have a valid US visitor visa (B1/B2) to travel to the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

n

The FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (PASS) provides an opportunity for those who purchase FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets directly from FIFA and opt-in to PASS to interview for a B1/B2 visitor visa before the tournament begins.

n

To use FIFA PASS, fans must log into their FIFA.com account and submit the FIFA PASS opt-in form, complete the visa application process, and schedule a visa interview appointment, answering "Yes" if asked if they are a FIFA ticket holder.

n

Scheduling an interview appointment via FIFA PASS does not guarantee that the visa will be issued, as ticket holders must undergo thorough screening and demonstrate that they qualify for a visa, like all other visa applicants.