The United States government has outlined travel and visa requirements for international supporters planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The tournament, scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, will be the biggest World Cup in history, featuring 48 national teams competing across cities in North America.
Matches will be played in major cities including Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Toronto, Vancouver, Mexico City and Monterrey, while the final is expected to hold at the New York/New Jersey venue. In total, 11 cities in the United States, two in Canada and three in Mexico will host games during the competition.
With football fans expected from across the globe, U.S. authorities said visitors must complete all travel and visa procedures ahead of the tournament.
Nigeria, however, will not participate in the tournament after failing to qualify following a defeat to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Checks by our correspondent on the website of the U.S. Department of State on Thursday also showed that Nigerians, alongside citizens of some other countries, remain under limited entry restrictions into the United States under Presidential Proclamation 10998, which took effect on January 1, 2026.
Although the Federal Government announced in February that it had opened diplomatic discussions with the United States to secure Nigeria’s removal from the affected countries list, there has been no visible change in the policy months before the tournament begins.
The restriction means Nigerian football fans and sports journalists may still apply for visas under certain conditions, but approval or entry into the United States is not guaranteed.
Meanwhile, travel guidance for some other African countries, including Ghana, appeared different and more detailed on the U.S. government portal.
Speaking about the tournament, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed excitement over hosting the global event.
“This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase the beauty and the greatness of America. And we can’t wait to welcome soccer fans from all over the globe,” Trump said.
According to information published by the U.S. Department of State, foreign nationals planning to attend the FIFA World Cup 2026 must possess the appropriate travel documents before departure.
The U.S. government advised travelers who still require visas to begin the process immediately, stressing that visa screening procedures would remain strict in line with national security measures.
“All visitors traveling to the United States are required to be in possession of passports that are valid for six months beyond the period of their intended stay in the United States, unless they are a citizen of an exempt country,” the statement read.
Canadian and Bermudan passport holders were exempted from additional travel authorisation requirements for tourism purposes, while citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Programme can apply through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation.
Fans from countries outside the programme are expected to obtain a valid B1/B2 visitor visa before entering the United States for the tournament.
The Department of State also announced the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System, known as FIFA PASS, for fans who buy World Cup tickets directly from FIFA.
Under the arrangement, eligible ticket holders who opt into FIFA PASS may receive priority interview appointments for U.S. visitor visas before the tournament begins.
The process requires applicants to create or log into their FIFA account, complete the FIFA PASS opt-in form, fill out the DS-160 visa application, upload a passport photograph, pay the visa fee and schedule an interview appointment.