Win for Kenyan Fans Heading to 2026 World Cup After Trump’s New Visa Move

President Donald Trump has revealed that United States (US) embassies will now fast-track visa interview dates for anyone holding a ticket to the 2026 World Cup — a move that could be a big deal for Kenyan fans planning the trip.

The new FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (Pass) will “allow World Cup ticket-holders with long wait times to opt with FIFA for a prioritised interview,” Trump said on Monday, November 17.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that ticket-holders won’t automatically get a visa. “Your ticket is not a visa; it doesn't guarantee admission to the US,” he said, adding that foreign fans will still undergo the usual scrutiny.

“We’re going to do the same vetting as anybody else would get. The only difference here is we’re moving them up in the queue.”

US President Donald Trump poses for a photo with FIFA President Gianni Infantino as they hold a dummy ticket at the White House. /X

Under the system, applicants could land an interview within six to eight weeks instead of waiting months.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, speaking alongside Trump and Rubio, said the US could see up to 10 million visitors during the tournament. 

“With this FIFA Pass, we can make sure that those who buy a ticket, that are legitimate football fans or soccer fans, they can come and attend the World Cup in the best conditions, starting from getting their visa,” he remarked.

In many countries, visa interview delays stretch nearly a year — long enough for the World Cup to come and go. The US Travel Association praised the new plan, saying “The expedited process for FIFA ticket-holders adds needed efficiency without sacrificing security.”

It’s still uncertain whether the priority system applies to fans from countries affected by Trump’s recent 12-nation travel ban. Iran — already qualified for 2026 — is on that list, and while the ban exempts athletes and coaches, ordinary fans could be blocked.

Unlike Kenya, which isn’t on any US waiver programme, travellers from many European and Asian countries can enter visa-free for up to 90 days.

At recent World Cups in Russia and Qatar, match tickets doubled as fan IDs that worked like visas — a system the US, Canada and Mexico aren’t adopting.

The advisory follows renewed assurances from FIFA President Infantino. While meeting President William Ruto at State House Nairobi recently, Infantino urged fans not to stress over U.S. entry rules, emphasising that “everyone will be welcome” for the tournament.

Set for June–July 2026, the World Cup will be the biggest ever staged, with 48 teams and 104 games hosted across 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

However, there’s a new hurdle: the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi has cautioned travellers that visa applications now require them to list all social media accounts used in the past five years.

According to the embassy’s guidance, giving incomplete or incorrect details could result in a visa refusal — and possibly make an applicant ineligible in the future.