If you are traveling to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and you are not a U.S. citizen, the first thing to settle is simple: you need either an approved ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program or a B1/B2 visitor visa stamped in your passport before you fly. A match ticket does not grant entry to the United States, and it does not guarantee a visa. You still have to qualify like any other visitor.
The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The 11 U.S. host cities, from New York and Los Angeles to Dallas and Atlanta, will draw millions of fans, and consular sections are already seeing the surge. Wait times for a visitor visa interview range from about 60 days to more than a year depending on the country, so the date you start matters as much as the steps you follow.
This guide is written for fans from countries that are not in the Visa Waiver Program, including Brazil, Argentina, India, Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, and many others. Those travelers need a B1/B2 visa, and that is the path most of these steps cover.
Citizens of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries, such as the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Spain, France, and Germany, do not need a visa at all. They apply online for an ESTA, currently $40, and can stay up to 90 days. Canadian and Bermudian citizens generally need no advance authorization to enter the U.S. as visitors.
Everyone else, the larger group, follows the visa route below: confirm your category, opt into FIFA PASS if you bought tickets from FIFA, complete the DS-160, pay the fees, and attend an interview. Each step has its own quirks for World Cup travelers, which is exactly what this guide maps out.
One framing point before you start. The U.S. government has built a dedicated lane for ticket holders, called the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System, or FIFA PASS, to push genuine fans toward earlier interview slots. It speeds up scheduling. It does not change whether you qualify. Read every step with that in mind.
Confirm whether you need a visa or just an ESTA
Your nationality decides your path. If you hold a passport from one of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries, you skip the embassy entirely and apply online for an ESTA. If you do not, you need a B1/B2 visitor visa, which means a DS-160 application and an in-person interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
If you already hold a valid B1/B2 visa in your passport, you are done with this step. A visa that is still valid through your travel dates lets you travel without reapplying, and you do not need FIFA PASS.
| ESTA | B1/B2 Visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | 42 VWP countries (UK, Japan, Spain, etc.) | Everyone else (Brazil, India, Nigeria, etc.) |
| Cost | $40 | $185 plus up to $250 integrity fee |
| Interview | None | Required, in person |
| Apply through | esta.cbp.dhs.gov | U.S. embassy or consulate |
| Validity | 2 years, stays up to 90 days | Often up to 10 years, multiple entry |
A U.S. ESTA or visa does not cover Canada or Mexico. If your match schedule crosses borders, you must meet each country’s separate entry rules, including Canada’s eTA or visa.
If you need a visa, opt into FIFA PASS for a priority appointment
FIFA PASS is a voluntary program that links your match ticket to your visa application so you can get a prioritized interview slot ahead of the tournament. It is open to fans who bought tickets directly from FIFA and who opt in through their FIFA account. It does not lower the bar for approval, and it does not guarantee a visa.
Opting in is the first move because the priority slot is the whole point of the program for World Cup travelers facing long queues. You log into your FIFA.com account, submit the FIFA PASS opt-in form, and then proceed to the standard visa steps below. Spouses and minor children can get FIFA PASS appointments only if they accompany the ticket holder to the same interview.
There is a bonus for early opt-ins. Nationals of competing countries who bought tickets and opted into FIFA PASS by April 15, 2026, and who otherwise qualify, get the U.S. visa bond requirement waived.
For full official terms, read the U.S. State Department FIFA PASS guidance and our coverage of how the program was rolled out.
Complete Form DS-160 and pay the fees
Every B1/B2 applicant files Form DS-160 online, uploads a compliant photo, and pays the visa application fee. Fill it out carefully. If you opted into FIFA PASS, make sure the name, passport number, and travel details match across your FIFA opt-in and your DS-160, and answer Yes when the system asks if you are a FIFA World Cup ticket holder.
Budget for the full cost, not just the application fee. The base MRV fee is $185 and is non-refundable whether or not your visa is approved. On top of that, a new $250 Visa Integrity Fee, signed into law in July 2025, applies to most nonimmigrant visas and is collected at the time the visa is issued, pushing the realistic total toward $435.
| MRV application fee (non-refundable) | $185 |
| Visa Integrity Fee (at issuance) | $250 |
| Total if issued | $435 |
| ESTA alternative (VWP travelers only) | $40 |
The $250 integrity fee is refundable only in narrow cases, such as leaving the U.S. on time and complying fully with your visa terms. Treat it as a real cost when you budget, not a deposit you will get back.
Book your interview and gather your documents
After the DS-160 and fee payment, you schedule your interview appointment. FIFA PASS opt-ins are routed to prioritized slots, but you still book through the standard appointment system for your country. Some renewing applicants may qualify for an interview waiver, which lets them skip the in-person step entirely.
What you bring decides the interview as much as what you say. The consular officer is checking that you are a genuine visitor who will leave on time, so your ticket, your travel plan, and your ties to home all matter. Build the file below before your date.
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond your stay
- DS-160 confirmation page with barcode
- Appointment confirmation and fee receipt
- Your FIFA World Cup match ticket or purchase confirmation
- Proof of funds for the trip (bank statements, pay slips)
- Evidence of ties to home (job letter, property, family)
- Travel itinerary and U.S. accommodation details
Two VisaVerge resources do most of the prep work for you: a breakdown of the required documents for a U.S. visitor visa interview and the top 10 B1/B2 interview questions with answers. Read both before you go. If you are renewing, check whether the 12-month interview waiver for B1/B2 renewals applies to you.
Attend the interview, then plan your entry
At the interview, answer honestly and briefly. The officer wants to hear a clear plan: which matches you are attending, how long you are staying, and why you will return home afterward. Mentioning your match ticket is fine, but it is your overall profile that earns the visa, not the ticket itself.
If approved, your passport is returned with the visa, usually within a few business days. A visa lets you travel to a U.S. port of entry, where a Customs and Border Protection officer makes the final admission decision and sets your authorized stay on the I-94 record. Check that I-94 date and leave on or before it. Overstaying can trigger three-year or ten-year reentry bars and can jeopardize the refund of your integrity fee.
Your visa validity and your authorized stay are different things. The visa is your travel document; the I-94 sets how long you can actually remain. Always go by the I-94.
Common mistakes World Cup fans make
It does not. Every applicant is screened on the merits, and FIFA PASS only speeds up scheduling. Prepare your interview file as if the ticket counted for nothing.
Interview backlogs run from about 60 days to more than a year. In India, wait times have reached as long as 14 months. If you do not have a visa yet, start now, not after the group draw.
ESTA is only for Visa Waiver Program nationals, and a U.S. authorization never covers entry to Canada or Mexico. Cross-border match plans need each country’s own approval.
If your name, passport number, or travel dates differ across forms, you can lose your priority slot. Enter the same information everywhere and answer Yes to the ticket-holder question.
After you are approved
With the visa in hand, the rest is logistics. Confirm your accommodation, map your match-day travel between host cities, and keep your I-94 date in view the entire trip. If your plans include games in Canada or Mexico, sort those entry requirements separately and early, because a U.S. visa does nothing for either.
For the money side of the trip, our guide to the $435 visa and integrity fee World Cup travelers face breaks down every charge. To gauge how early to start in your country, see the latest on U.S. visa wait times reaching 14 months in India. And for the program that can move you up the queue, read how FIFA PASS was announced for 2026 World Cup ticket holders.
Get the category right, file early, keep your story consistent, and respect your authorized stay. Do that and the visa becomes the easy part of seeing the World Cup in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa to attend the 2026 World Cup in the United States?
It depends on your nationality. Citizens of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries apply online for an ESTA, currently $40. Everyone else needs a B1/B2 visitor visa, which requires Form DS-160 and an in-person interview. Canadian and Bermudian citizens generally need no advance authorization.
Does a World Cup match ticket guarantee a U.S. visa?
No. A match ticket does not grant entry or guarantee approval. Every applicant is screened on the merits and must show they qualify as a genuine visitor who will leave on time. FIFA PASS can speed up your interview scheduling, but it does not change whether the visa is issued.
What is FIFA PASS and how does it help?
FIFA PASS is a voluntary program that links your FIFA-purchased ticket to your visa application so you get a prioritized interview slot before the tournament. You opt in through your FIFA.com account. Spouses and minor children can get appointments only if they accompany the ticket holder to the same interview.
How much does a U.S. visitor visa cost for the World Cup?
The base MRV application fee is $185 and is non-refundable. A new $250 Visa Integrity Fee, signed into law in July 2025, applies to most nonimmigrant visas and is collected when the visa is issued, bringing the realistic total to about $435. ESTA, for Visa Waiver Program travelers, costs $40.
How early should I apply for a World Cup visa?
As early as possible. Interview backlogs run from roughly 60 days to more than a year, and wait times in India have reached as long as 14 months. With the tournament starting June 11, 2026, anyone without a valid visa should start now rather than wait for the group draw.
Does a U.S. visa let me attend matches in Canada or Mexico?
No. A U.S. ESTA or visa only covers entry to the United States. Canada requires its own eTA or visa, and Mexico has separate rules. If your match schedule crosses borders, you must satisfy each country’s entry requirements independently, including for land crossings.
What documents should I bring to the visa interview?
Bring your passport valid at least six months beyond your stay, the DS-160 confirmation page, your appointment and fee receipts, your match ticket or purchase confirmation, proof of funds, evidence of ties to home such as a job letter, and your travel itinerary and U.S. accommodation details.
What happens if I overstay my visa during the World Cup?
Your authorized stay is set by the I-94 record at entry, not by the visa validity. Staying past the I-94 date can trigger three-year or ten-year reentry bars and can jeopardize the refund of your $250 integrity fee. Always check the I-94 date and leave on or before it.
