This week, Donald Trump announced the FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS), a program that will allow ticket holders to move up the queue when applying for tourist visas. The announcement was made during a high-profile press conference at the White House, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at his side.
FIFA Pass Offers Expedited Appointments but Not Visa Exemptions
The FIFA Pass initiative offers quicker visa interview scheduling, but does not guarantee visa approval or change the vetting process. According to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, applicants with tickets purchased through FIFA’s official platform can now access a dedicated portal to book an interview in as little as six to eight weeks. He clarified that “a ticket is not a visa,” emphasizing that all security screenings will remain unchanged.
The decision follows mounting pressure from FIFA’s government affairs team, who raised concerns over long appointment wait times in key football nations. According to The Athletic, visa interview wait times currently exceed 10 months in countries such as Colombia and Ecuador, which could affect thousands of fans. In contrast, citizens of visa waiver countries, like Japan, Australia, and most of Europe, can enter under the ESTA system without applying for a visa.
To cope with the expected demand, the State Department has added more than 400 consular officers worldwide. Infantino called the move a “concrete example” of the U.S. commitment to hosting an inclusive tournament, noting that over two million tickets have already been sold. The tournament is expected to bring between 5 and 10 million foreign visitors to the continent, according to AFP.
Visa Scheme Overshadowed by Threats to Move Matches From U.S. Host Cities
While the FIFA Pass aims to simplify travel, the announcement was partly overshadowed by Trump’s public warnings to certain host cities. According to Sky News, Trump expressed concern over crime rates in Seattle and Los Angeles, suggesting that matches could be relocated if safety cannot be guaranteed. “If we think there’s gonna be sign of any trouble, I would ask Gianni to move that to a different city,” he said during the same Oval Office event.
He also hinted at deploying the National Guard or other federal forces if local leaders fail to maintain order. “If there is even a hint of a problem, we want to get in there before a problem occurs” Trump added. The remarks came as part of a broader conversation that veered into topics such as drug trafficking in Mexico and the ongoing situation in Venezuela.
FIFA President Infantino remained measured, stating, “Safety and security is the number one priority for a successful World Cup.” He reiterated the importance of cooperation between FIFA and national governments, highlighting that strong ticket sales indicate international confidence in the U.S. as a safe host nation.
Although the FIFA Pass initiative was generally well received, it also reignited debates over American immigration policy, border security, and the politicization of international sporting events. For fans, though, the immediate message is clear: apply early, even with a ticket in hand.
