The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on 11 June and runs to 19 July, with matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico. For fans planning to attend the US-based matches, the visa situation in 2026 is unusually complicated. Appointment wait times at US consulates are running between 100 days and six months at the most congested posts. A new visa bond rule applies to some nationalities. FIFA has launched a priority appointment programme for ticket-holders. And at least 39 countries face US travel bans or restrictions that ticket-holder status alone will not override.

Here is what international fans need to know.

FIFA PASS gets you a faster interview. It does not get you past a travel ban, and it does not guarantee a visa.

The basics

For travel to the US-hosted matches:

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  • Visa Waiver Program (VWP) citizens: apply for an ESTA online. Approval is usually fast but it is not automatic, and ESTA does not work for every nationality. Check the State Department list.
  • All other nationalities: a valid US B1/B2 visitor visa is required. This is the standard tourist visa, not a special World Cup category.
  • Visa interviews: consular wait times are running 100 days at typical posts, with some posts backed up six months or more.
  • Plan for Canada and Mexico separately: matches in those countries fall under their own visa rules.

FIFA PASS, in plain English

The FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (PASS) is a State Department programme open only to ticket-holders who purchased their seats directly from FIFA and opted in to PASS through the FIFA website. It gives those applicants a faster visa interview slot than the standard queue.

What PASS does:

  • Moves you to the front of the line for a B1/B2 interview slot.
  • Recognises your ticket as a legitimate reason to travel.

What PASS does not do:

  • It does not guarantee a visa. The interview still has to be passed, and consular officers still make the call.
  • It does not override existing travel bans or restrictions. If your country is on the US travel ban list, PASS will not get you through.
  • It does not apply to tickets bought through resellers, friends, or secondary markets. Only FIFA-direct purchases qualify.

The visa bond rule and the FIFA waiver

Earlier this year, the US announced a visa bond requirement for certain nationalities applying for visitor visas. In May 2026, a specific waiver was added for FIFA World Cup ticket-holders.

The waiver applies to nationals of competing countries who:

  • Purchased FIFA World Cup tickets by 15 April 2026, and
  • Opted in to FIFA PASS through the FIFA website, and
  • Are otherwise fully eligible for a US visitor visa.

If you meet all three conditions, the visa bond is waived. If you do not, the standard bond rule applies. The waiver is a meaningful financial relief, but it does not change the underlying eligibility test.

The travel bans nobody is talking about loudly

At least 39 countries currently face US travel bans or restrictions of varying severity. Most are full or near-full immigration bans. Some are narrower restrictions on specific visa categories. None are lifted by FIFA PASS.

If you hold a passport from a country in this group, attending the US-hosted matches is most likely not feasible in 2026 regardless of ticket status. The realistic alternatives are the matches in Canada or Mexico, both of which have separate visa regimes and which several restricted-nationality fans are already pivoting toward.

What it means for travellers from Maldives-relevant source markets

Most major Maldives source markets are in the standard B1/B2 group or the VWP group. Practical notes:

United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Australia, New Zealand: VWP countries. ESTA is sufficient, and processing is fast. The major risk is leaving the application too late.

India, China, Brazil, Russia, Korea, South Africa: Standard B1/B2 visa required. India and Brazil are among the most backed-up consulates. Fans from these markets who do not have an existing valid visa and have not applied via FIFA PASS will struggle to get an interview in time for the group stage.

Maldivian nationals: Maldives is not on the VWP. Maldivian fans need a B1/B2 visa, and the standard 100-day-plus interview backlog applies. If you have not applied yet, your realistic shot at the US-hosted matches is the knockout rounds in early to mid-July, not the group stage in mid-June.

The practical checklist

If you are still planning a World Cup trip:

  • Check whether your nationality qualifies for ESTA. If it does, apply now and confirm approval before booking flights.
  • If you need a B1/B2 visa, check the wait time at your local US consulate. If it is over 100 days, the group stage is no longer realistic. Look at knockout-round dates or pivot to Canada and Mexico matches.
  • If you bought your ticket through FIFA directly and have not opted into FIFA PASS, do so immediately. It costs nothing and meaningfully improves your appointment timing.
  • If your country faces travel bans, do not assume FIFA PASS will help. It will not.
  • Travel insurance: read the visa-related cancellation cover carefully before paying for flights and accommodation. Visa denials are a routine exclusion.

Authoritative sources for the latest: the US State Department FIFA World Cup 26 Visas page, your local US embassy or consulate, and the FIFA travel section on fifa.com.