The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has issued a strong reminder to football fans around the world that a match ticket for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is not a visa and does not guarantee entry into the country.
The warning comes as millions of fans prepare for the first ever 48-team World Cup, to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The U.S., which will host the majority of matches, is already experiencing a surge in visa applications from supporters hoping to travel for the tournament.
Rubio explained that although FIFA has introduced a new FIFA PASS system — created in partnership with the U.S. government — the system only provides prioritized visa interview appointments for ticket holders. It does not automatically grant entry.
He emphasized that every applicant must still undergo the full U.S. visa vetting process, regardless of their ticket status. “You’re still going to go through the same vetting … the only difference here is that we’re moving them up in the queue,” the Secretary of State clarified.
FIFA’s PASS initiative is designed to help ease appointment delays by allowing verified ticket holders to schedule faster visa interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. However, officials stress that all standard eligibility checks remain unchanged, and visas will only be issued to applicants who meet U.S. immigration requirements.
In response to the anticipated surge, the U.S. State Department has also begun deploying additional consular staff to embassies globally to handle the expected wave of applicants ahead of the tournament.
The new advisory aims to prevent misconceptions among fans who may believe that World Cup tickets automatically provide entry — a notion U.S. authorities say is false and potentially problematic for unprepared travelers.
With ticket sales ongoing and global excitement building, fans are urged to secure their tickets early and immediately begin the visa application process, especially in regions where appointment backlogs are common.
