Donald Trump’s World Cup “FIFA Pass” is Just a Glorified Fast-Track Visa
So, you’ve managed to snag a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and you’re dreaming of watching the beautiful game on American soil. Great! But before you pack your bags and practice your best “U-S-A!” chant, Donald Trump has a little something for you: the “FIFA Pass.” Sounds fancy, right? Well, hold your horses. It’s not the golden ticket you might think it is.
On Monday, standing in the Oval Office with FIFA’s head honcho Gianni Infantino, Trump announced the new “Fifa Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System,” or PASS. The idea is to help the millions of fans expected to descend upon the US, Canada, and Mexico for the tournament. With this pass, ticket-holders who are facing agonizingly long visa appointment wait times can get moved to the front of the line.
“If you have a ticket for the World Cup, you can have a prioritised appointment to get your visa,” Infantino chirped, looking pleased as punch. He painted a picture of 5 to 10 million global fans flocking to America, all breezing through the visa process. It all sounds lovely, doesn’t it? A seamless, fan-first experience.
But let’s cut through the fluff.
So, What Is This FIFA Pass, Really?
Here’s the deal: this “FIFA Pass” is essentially just a priority queue. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quick to burst the bubble, making it crystal clear that this pass isn’t a free pass into the country. “Your ticket is not a visa,” he stated, probably for the hundredth time that day. “It doesn’t guarantee admission to the US. It guarantees you an expedited appointment.”
In other words, you still have to go through the same rigorous, invasive, and often frustrating vetting process as everyone else. The only difference is that instead of waiting a year for your interview, you might get one in six to eight weeks. Big whoop. For fans in countries like Colombia, where the current wait time is around 11 months, this is a welcome change. But let’s be real, it’s a bit like getting a fast pass at a theme park only to find out the ride is still two hours long.
This whole announcement feels less like a genuine effort to help fans and more like a classic Trump political maneuver. He gets to stand next to the FIFA president, talk big about making things happen, and position the World Cup as a centerpiece of his second term. It’s a PR win, plain and simple.
Trump’s Political Playground
And let’s not forget the political circus surrounding this whole event. Trump has already threatened to move World Cup games from “unsafe” Democratic-run cities, turning a global sporting event into another pawn in his political chess game. It adds a layer of uncertainty that no fan wants to deal with.
There’s also the juicy rumor that FIFA might award its new peace prize to Trump himself. Coincidence? Unlikely. With Infantino constantly by his side, it’s clear there’s a cozy relationship brewing. This “FIFA Pass” feels like just another part of that mutual back-scratching.
What Does This Mean for Fans?
If you’re a fan planning to travel, the message is clear: don’t get complacent. This pass might help you get an appointment faster, but it doesn’t solve the core problem of a complicated and often arbitrary visa system. You still need to apply early, have your documents in order, and hope for the best.
And what about fans from the 12 countries on Trump’s travel ban list? The announcement conveniently skimmed over that detail. While athletes and staff might be exempt, regular fans from places like Iran—whose team has qualified—could still be left out in the cold. It’s a stark reminder that for all the talk of unity and global celebration, politics always finds a way to crash the party.
Ultimately, the FIFA Pass is a band-aid on a much larger issue. It’s a small, flashy gesture designed to create the illusion of efficiency while the underlying problems remain. So, by all means, get your tickets, apply for your visa, and hope for the best. Just don’t expect Trump’s magical pass to be the cure-all it’s being sold as. This is still America, after all.
