The United States is gearing up to accept guests around the globe for what it calls the “largest and greatest FIFA World Cup in history,” as the Trump Administration unveiled a new fast-track visa initiative aimed at millions of foreign soccer fans anticipated travelling to the country.
Starting on January 20, the State Department will debut the FIFA Priority Appointment Schedule System, known as FIFA PASS, a scheme created for World Cup-goers who need US visas, a senior State Department official said..
“As part of the Trump Administration’s commitment to making this an incredible, successful event,” the official said, the new system is intended to ensure that legitimate fans are able to secure visa appointments in time for the tournament.
In a FIFA PASS setup, all confirmed ticket holders will be given preferential access to visa interview appointments before the FIFA World Cup is hosted, granting applicants an expedited route through US consular processing prior to the scheduled start date of the tournament.
At the same time, the leader insisted the program would not dilute US immigration standards.
“At the visa appointment, the applicant must show they qualify for the visa and plan to follow our laws and leave at the end of the tournament,” the official said, adding that “America’s safety and the security of our borders will ALWAYS come first.”
As part of ways to further enhance a successful FIFA World Cup, the State Department will have more than 500 additional consular officials processing FWC26 visa applications with the same security provisions applied to all applicants, the official said. These deployments would keep “the same rigorous security standards applied to all applicants,” while processing capacity is widened, the official said.
And it has also turned its attention to streamlining visa wait times across the world. In over 80 per cent of countries around the world, applicants now can arrange a United States visitor visa interview appointment within 60 days, well in advance compared to previous backlogs, the final report noted. Tournament-going fans who need visas have been encouraged to apply as quickly as possible in their country of nationality or residence.
The State Department has shown visitors an official page in its website that takes them to the dedicated FIFA World Cup 26 visa information portal. FIFA PASS, extra staff and shortened wait times for interviews are just a few of the ways in which they are trying to assist them in a seamless and secure World Cup experience, while making certain US immigration laws are being fully enacted during the entire event, said the official.
The FIFA World Cup will start on June 11 with games set across multiple host cities. It will constitute the organization’s largest event to date, with 48 national teams participating. Eleven US cities will host 78 matches, including the final in the New York New Jersey Stadium. The tournament currently being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico is the first time the tournament is hosted jointly by three countries. Additionally, it will be the first World Cup with expanded 48-team structure which significantly expanded the number of matches and fans coming to visit The World Cup.
