Trump, FIFA President unveil plan to help 2026 World Cup fans get travel visas faster

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As qualifying nations continue to secure their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino met Monday at the White House, announcing a new "FIFA Pass" aimed at easing visa access for fans traveling to North America for the tournament.

The announcement came during a meeting of the White House FIFA 2026 Task Force, which coordinates U.S. preparations for the largest World Cup in history.

The White House Task Force

What we know:

The White House FIFA 2026 Task Force, launched earlier this year, includes members from several federal agencies and focuses on issues like security, infrastructure, visa access and tourism coordination across the three host nations.

The task force’s goal is to ensure smooth operations for the estimated 5 million visitors expected during the tournament, which will feature 104 matches in 16 host cities across North America.

For the United States, matches will be played in venues including MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

In the meeting on Monday, President Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the creation of a new "FIFA Pass," a program designed to streamline visa appointments for fans who have purchased tickets to the 2026 World Cup. 

Speaking from the White House, Trump said he has directed his administration to "do everything within its power" to make the tournament "an unprecedented success." The president added that the World Cup is expected to generate more than $30 billion in economic activity across North America, joking with Infantino, "I don’t know about that — that sounds like a lot of money!"

Senator Marco Rubio urged soccer fans globally to apply for tickets and travel documents early, warning that demand will surge as the tournament approaches. 

"Don’t wait until the last minute to do it," Rubio said, emphasizing that millions of visitors are expected across the United States, Mexico and Canada during the month-long event.

What is the World Cup Draw?

Simply put, the World Cup Draw is the process that decides which qualified nations will face each other in the tournament’s group stage.

The draw for FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place on Dec. 5. This year’s tournament will include a record 48 teams, up from 32, divided into 12 groups of four. Each team earns points based on match results: three for a win, one for a draw (tie) and none for a loss.

The top two teams in each group and the eight best third-place finishers will advance to a new Round of 32 knockout stage.

In World Cup terms, "draw" has two meanings: it can describe the random group assignment process or, in gameplay, a tie when neither team wins after 90 minutes of regulation time.

The host nations of Canada, Mexico and the United States automatically qualify and have been assigned to groups that ensure they play all of their matches at home.

RELATED: How does the new 2026 FIFA World Cup format work?

Qualifying update

European qualifiers are wrapping up, with several more nations set to secure their place before the end of the week.

As of Sunday, Nov. 16, the following nations have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

• Host nations: Canada, Mexico, United States
• Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan
• Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
• Europe: Croatia, England, France, Norway, Portugal
• Oceania: New Zealand
• South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay

A transformative tournament for North America

The 2026 World Cup is expected to be transformative for soccer across North America — expanding the sport’s footprint and fan base in ways the region hasn’t seen before.

For the United States, experts say the tournament could be the country’s "soccer moment" and a chance to further establish the sport on par with baseball, basketball and football in popularity and youth participation.

Analysts say the three-nation format and expanded 48-team field will bring unprecedented visibility to the sport, potentially drawing record-breaking global audiences.

What's next:

President Trump’s task force meeting marks another step toward what will be one of the biggest international sporting events ever hosted on U.S. soil.

With the World Cup Draw on Dec. 5 and qualifying nearly complete, all eyes are now on how the tournament’s expanded format will unfold — and which matchups could define soccer’s next global chapter.

FIFA World CupSports