Select tickets and hospitality packages are now on sale for the 2026 World Cup, the global soccer tournament hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States that will be “the greatest spectacle of celebration and inclusivity,” according to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
But catching the action could prove more complicated than buying a seat for fans coming to America from countries where the current wait times for required visa interviews can stretch over a year, with some of those delays affecting likely World Cup qualifying nations.
“Fans traveling to attend matches in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. will need to satisfy the entry requirements of each host country,” On Location says in the FAQ portion of its site offering the packages.
Those entry requirements may include lengthy waits. According to the U.S. State Department website, the next available time to meet with an official in Ankara (Turkey), Bogota (Colombia) or Abu Dhabi (UAE) is 12 months or more away. The World Cup starts in 13 months, on June 11, 2026.
Visitors in Bogota are set to wait 13 months, even after a State Department spokesperson said in January that the U.S. was sending additional staff to Colombia and extending operating hours to deal with the backlog there. For nations whose teams may not qualify but whose residents may just want to see the spectacle, wait times are also daunting. Appointment times in Peru and Nigeria are seven months away or longer.
Next year’s will be the largest World Cup yet, with 48 teams competing. The last of those entrants won’t be determined until March 2026, giving fans precious few months to sort out travel arrangements.
Event organizers have said participating athletes and related staff will be able to use an expedited process to smooth their approval process. Other recent hosts, including Russia and Qatar, have also expedited visas for ticket holders, but that option doesn’t seem to be on the table in the U.S..
Back in 2018, President Donald Trump wrote to Infantino, saying he was confident that “fans from all countries around the world would be able to enter the United States without discrimination” if the U.S. was awarded hosting privileges. However, Trump has taken a firm anti-immigration stance since his return to office, including signing an executive order calling for “enhanced vetting and screening” of those entering the country.
Trump has reportedly also considered a new ban on travel to the U.S. from as many as 43 countries. Those in the discussed “all travel banned” and “visas sharply restricted” categories include World Cup qualifier Iran, as well as Venezuela, which is still alive in qualifying. Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo could be added to the list of restricted countries at a later date.
On Location, which is distributing the hospitality packages on sale beginning today, declined to comment on the visa situation.
U.S. law makes it difficult to qualify for a tourist visa, said immigration attorney Chloe Dybdahl, who spent 16 years with the State Department before joining Jetr Global Sports + Entertainment. America starts with a presumption against applicants, who are required to prove that they will return to their home country following their visit.
“You can’t reach down to each one to help them get a travel ban exemption or a tourist visa,” Dybdahl said. “You can’t do that with a half million anonymous fans.”
As many as 6 million international fans are expected to attend, with many coming from the 40-plus countries who are part of a visa waiver program that will allow them to enter the U.S. and stay for less than 90 days without obtaining a visa.
For now, the ticket distribution process is continuing without changes. Major League Soccer is working with On Location to promote and sell premium tickets, suites and hospitality packages for the 104-match event. Options available in the initial release start at $5,300 per person, going up to $73,200 for an eight-game New York package including the final on July 19. Regular ticket prices have not been announced.
Those hoping to attend matches on American soil from World Cup co-hosts Canada and Mexico could face particular challenges. The next appointment in Quebec is 23 months away, according to the state department site. Guadalajara’s and Mexico City’s offices both show wait times of more than 10 months.
Pandemic-era delays, a surge in tourism after the pandemic and government shrinkage under Trump have all been blamed for the lengthy interview wait periods.
“Wait times for visitor visa interviews, particularly for first-time applicants, remain unacceptably high in many countries,” a bipartisan group of 21 senators wrote in a letter last year calling for the creation of a new task force dedicated to preparing the country for global sporting events, including the World Cup.
Under Trump, the State Department reportedly removed search functionality to determine consular visa appointment openings, replacing it with a static table last updated in April. Chiefs of mission abroad have also reportedly been asked to pare down staffing to the bare minimum required, which could lengthen waits.
Research group Tourism Economics recently predicted a 20.2% decrease for Canadian travelers coming to the U.S. in 2025, with international visitor spending overall dropping 9.4% in the wake of reports detailing tourists being detained while trying to enter the country.
—Additional reporting by Eben Novy-Williams
