United States Now Fast-Tracks Visa Process for World Cup Visitors to Ensure Smooth Access

Published on November 24, 2025

With the World Cup taking place in the summer of 2026 and the United States and the World Cup’s organising body, FIFA, are preparing for the implementation of the FIFA Pass. This is the first streamlining of visa processes targeting international soccer fans. This streamlining of the United States’ visa processing system was introduced by President Donald Trump and FIFA President Infantino. The World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June eleven to July nineteen, 2026, and. This will be the first tournament to include the FIFA Pass visa streamlining.

The FIFA World Cup in 2026 promises to be the most memorable tournament. The tournament will include 48 teams and entail 104 matches, setting records.  The tournament, the biggest in history, is expected to draw 5 to 10 million fans. This World Cup will be in North America and the USA will be the host of 11 of the 16 Host Cities. Among them are Miami, the site of the final, and major cities such as New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, and Dallas. It is important, given the massive number of fans that will be attending, to facilitate efficient travel outcomes.

Expedited visas for international fans

The updated policy by the USA for the FIFA World Cup 2026 where the USA will provide expedited visas for fans holding FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets has been well received by international fans. Concerns about the USA immigration policy has been an obstacle for some potential fans in attending the world cup. By providing expedited visas for world cup soccer fans USA aims to remove barriers by allowing soccer fans to attend the world cup soccer matches.

This expedited visa policy will apply to ticket holders from every country in the world even those with strict visa regimes. The FIFA Pass will enable these ticket holders to circumvent some of the visa obstructions in the USA visa system. The World Cup is likely to host millions of international fans so this ticket holder visa policy will significantly enhance international travel to North America.

The Economic Impact of the 2026 World Cup  

The World Cup of 2026 is predicted to result in great monetary advantages for the host countries of the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as there will be a considerable increase of tourists and spending on lodgings, meals, transport, and additional services. The United States will most like gain a considerable rise in international tourism for the large cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, which will be hosting multiple matches of the World Cup, including the finals.  

As of now, there are predictions stating that the 2026 World Cup will surpass the 1994 World Cup in attendance and economic gain. Keep in mind that the 1994 World Cup was also held in the United States and gained a revenue of 4.5 billion dollars as it attracted the attendance of 3.5 million fans. In regards to the 2026 World Cup, the increase in size of the tournament and the greater economic contribution to the region, as a result of the tournament’s accessibility, is anticipated to affect the numbers in attendance positively.

North America Travel Opportunities  

In 2026, the World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and fans will be able to travel to all three participating countries, watching the match in different cities. This will allow for some extraordinary travel prospects, giving fans the chance to fully appreciate the culture and diversity of all three host countries.  

World Cup matches will be hosted in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, where fans will be able to engage in the vast culture and energetic vibe of the country. The Canadian cities of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver will also host matches and provide their beautiful landscapes, varying multiculturalism, and centre of the country.  

Travelling to the United States will also be a highlight for World Cup tourists, where iconic cities and attractions await. Tourists will be able to travel to all sorts of cultural, historical, and natural attractions, like the historical Washington D.C, the entertainment capital Los Angeles, and the lively Miami.

Contribution of the World Cup to Sports Tourism

The 2026 World Cup is anticipated to enhance sports tourism in the region. Fans will not be participants in the games but will take part in eclectic sports-related activities, including fan festivals, viewing parties, and sports tourism events. Such activities will boost sports tourism and benefit local businesses like hotels, restaurants, transport services, and local attractions.

Sports tourism will also be enhanced through the FIFA Pass, which will ease the travel process for sports lovers to not only attend the World Cup matches but also to partake in the other celebrations and activities surrounding the event. The Pass will facilitate the mobility of fans interested in fully hosted cities and the local sports activities.

Improving the Fans’ Experience for the World Cup

Alongside the fast-tracked visas, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada are coordinating to enhance the experience for World Cup visitors. Improvements to public transport, security protocols, and the establishment of dedicated fan zones have been planned to guarantee attendees an experience they will not forget during the event.

The upcoming sports World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada is likely to attract millions of tourists from every corner of the world. This event will improve the host cities’ global visibility and their desirability as tourism destinations. The new streamlined visa procedure will allow soccer fans to focus on the event and festivities without the stress of bureaucratic delays.  

Conclusion  

The forthcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, will be the start of new global tourism patterns. The speed visa processing in the US is likely to be a key component in providing a frictionless experience to millions of World Cup tourists. The sporting event will host a record number of qualified teams, a larger number of cities prepared to host the games, the FIFA pass. Collectively, these attributes are expected to deliver the greatest sport event of all time, and with it, unprecedented tourism for North America.