STATE DEPT LAUNCHES ‘FIFA PASS’ TO FAST-TRACK WORLD CUP VISA INTERVIEWS; 400+ CONSULAR OFFICERS DEPLOYED

The Trump administration unveiled FIFA PASS, giving verified World Cup ticket holders priority access to U.S. visa interview appointments starting in early 2026. The State Department has surged more than 400 consular officers, cutting waits in countries like Brazil and Argentina from over a year to under two months, while keeping standard vetting unchanged. The FIFA–White House collaboration aims to manage millions of visitors for the 78 U.S.-hosted matches without altering eligibility rules.