Speaking in the Oval Office alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Trump said his administration is implementing what he called the FIFA Prioritized Appointment Scheduling System – the “FIFA pass” – to allow World Cup ticket holders to sign up for a “prioritized interview.”
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He also said the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security were working “tirelessly” together to “ensure that soccer fans around the world are properly vetted and can easily come to the United States next summer.”
“I have directed my administration to do everything in its power to make the 2026 World Cup an unprecedented success. I believe it will be the biggest. And we are setting records in ticket sales,” Trump said.
Infantino, who has become a frequent presence in the Trump White House and has cultivated a close relationship with the president as next year’s World Cup approaches, told reporters that FIFA expects “between 5 and 10 million people to come to the United States from all over the world to enjoy the World Cup.”
“With this FIFA pass we can ensure that those who buy a ticket and are legitimate soccer fans or soccer fans can come and attend the World Cup in the best conditions, starting with obtaining their visa and then entering the country to enjoy,” he said.
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Infantino added that 6 billion people are expected to watch next year’s World Cup around the world, and one billion are expected to watch the World Cup draw to be held on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
After the FIFA chief finished his off-the-cuff remarks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that his department has deployed “more than 400 additional consular officers” to embassies around the world to handle World Cup-related visa applications, effectively doubling the number of officers in “certain countries.”
“The good news now is that about 80 percent of the world can get an appointment within 60 days. It used to take, you know, half a year or more,” Rubio said.
“So our advice to everyone is that if you have a ticket for any of the games, you should apply. If you haven’t done so as soon as possible, don’t wait until the last minute. Your ticket is not a visa. It does not guarantee entry into the US. It guarantees you an expedited appointment.”
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Rubio added that World Cup ticket holders who used the “FIFA pass” would undergo “the same investigation as anyone else.”
“The only difference here is that we are moving them up in the queue. We are moving them up faster. But my advice to everyone watching around the world is that if you intend to come to the games, you should have a ticket. You should apply. Apply as soon as possible,” he said.