President Donald Trump of the United States and FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced Monday the creation of the “FIFA Pass,” a new mechanism designed to expedite immigration procedures for fans who have already purchased tickets for the World Cup. The measure aims to simplify and prioritize access to consular appointments ahead of the tournament.
Under this system, those with tickets can move ahead of already scheduled applications when requesting an appointment with the State Department. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that the government has strengthened its operational capacity to handle the high demand.
“We have deployed over 400 additional consular officials worldwide to address this situation, in some cases doubling the consular presence at our embassies in certain countries,” he detailed.
The announcement was made in the Oval Office following a meeting of the White House World Cup Task Force, which included Trump, Infantino, Rubio, and other cabinet members. During his remarks, the U.S. president urged fans not to delay the process:
“For those planning to join us at the World Cup, I strongly recommend applying for your visa immediately,” he warned.
Rubio added that nearly 80% of U.S. consulates worldwide—including those in Argentina and Brazil—already allow appointments to be scheduled within approximately 60 days.
“Our advice to everyone is that if you have a ticket for any of the matches, apply for your visa as soon as possible if you haven’t already. Don’t wait until the last minute,” he emphasized.
The Secretary of State also noted that the “FIFA Pass” does not replace a visa nor guarantee entry into the country.
“Your ticket is not a visa. It does not guarantee entry into the United States. What it guarantees is an expedited appointment. Even so, you will go through the same verification process. We will conduct the exact same checks as we do for anyone else. The only difference is that you move ahead in the line,” he concluded.
Image: DiarioNY
