The US may not allow fans from Uzbekistan to attend the FIFA World Cup
A match ticket will not serve as a visa, and the visa procedures will not be simplified
Visa issuance for ticket holders to the 2026 World Cup in the US will be expedited, BBC reports.
Trump called the championship a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for the country and is expected to bring over $30 billion in revenue. American embassies will prioritize ticket holders, allowing them to interview within 6-8 weeks of document submission. The system was named FIFA Pass.
US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the match ticket is not a visa and does not guarantee entry, but allows the owner to rise higher in the interview queue. A total of up to 10 million tourists will be able to visit the tournament.
Meanwhile, in some countries whose national teams have already qualified for next year’s tournament, there is a long wait for a visa. In Colombia, travelers applying for US visas are currently waiting for an interview for about 11 months.
The average waiting time for admission in Mexico City is almost 10 months, while Toronto residents who are not Canadian citizens can wait 14 months for admission. If this waiting period continues, by the time some countries approve or refuse to grant visas to fans, the world championship will be over and the gold trophy will be awarded.
As a reminder, Uzbek clubs will be paid for their players’ participation in the 2026 World Cup. In total, FIFA will allocate over $350 million for financial bonuses.
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