What international fans need to know about US travel for the 2026 World Cup

The World Cup is arriving during a period of heightened immigration scrutiny that could affect how tourism to the U.S. functions. Some fans have reported higher refusal rates, longer processing times, and tougher questioning at consulates are the environment fans.

The encouraging part to keep in mind is that many of the rules haven't actually changed. A well-prepared B-1/B-2 application is still the path many fans will take. Thorough, honest applications likely will be approved. As this article from Manifest Law explains, a little bit of planning can make it easier to remain in compliance with visa requirements for your upcoming travel.

Once you're inside the US, the I-94 (not the visa) sets your time limit

Visa validity is the single most misunderstood rule for international visitors traveling to the U.S. A B-1/B-2 visa stamp can allow stays of up to six months, but Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at ports of entry decide how long you can stay and mark that on your Form I-94 admission record.

The split exists by design. Congress drew a line between eligibility to enter (the visa, issued abroad by the State Department) and admission itself (decided at the border by CBP, on the day). There are two agencies, two decisions, and two separate records.

Here are two quick steps you should take after landing in the U.S.:

1. Download the I-94 from i94.cbp.dhs.gov within 24 hours of arrival. The site provides the official admission record, including the Admit Until date.
2. Check that date against your travel plans. If your I-94 expires before your departure flight, you have been admitted for a shorter period than you assumed. Staying past that date, even by a day, can carry serious consequences for future travel to the U.S., including automatic cancellation of your visa.

"The visa is permission to ask to enter. The I-94 is the permission to actually be here," said Ana Gabriela Urizar, a Manifest Law immigration attorney. "People mix these up constantly, and the consequences can affect future visa applications for years."

Flying between US host cities? Keep a passport in your carry-on

Following a team through the group stage will mean traveling between two or three U.S. host cities. There's no domestic immigration check within the U.S., but you'll want to be sure you have the correct ID for travel.

REAL ID enforcement is now in full effect at TSA security. U.S. travelers need either a REAL ID-compliant state ID or one of TSA's approved alternatives. A foreign passport is an accepted alternative for international visitors. A driver's license issued by a foreign country is not.

The U.S. requires most visitors to hold a passport valid for at least six months beyond their intended stay. More than 100 countries - including the U.K., Canada, Australia, India, Brazil, France, and Japan - are exempt and only need a passport valid for the length of the stay. The full list is on CBP's website.

Applying for a US visa? There's still time, but the window is shrinking

Many fans won't need to apply for a U.S. visa at all. If you're from a Visa Waiver Program country, you can travel by submitting an application through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization. If you already hold a valid U.S. visa, you can use it. FIFA PASS is only for ticket holders who need a new visa, and only for tickets purchased through FIFA.com or via On Location.

For fans who don't qualify for ESTA, there are three steps to getting a B-1/B-2 visa.

1. Completing the DS-160 application form online.
2. Paying the fees.
3. Attending an in-person interview at a U.S. consulate.

Wait times for interviews vary widely by consulate. The FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (PASS) gets ticket holders a faster appointment, but that's all it does. It doesn't change eligibility rules, doesn't lower the burden of proof, and doesn't guarantee approval. The PASS is most useful for ticket holders in countries where wait times stretch into months. If your home consulate has visa appointments available quickly, you may not need the FIFA PASS at all.

Apply in your home country. This is one of the most important and least-discussed rules. B-1/B-2 applicants must apply at the U.S. consulate in their country of nationality or residence. Applying at a third-country consulate used to be common, but the State Department ended the practice in September 2025. Only a few limited exceptions exist (Colombian nationals may apply in Panama City or Brazil, for instance).

Previously, applicants facing scrutiny or longer waits at home would make visa appointments in countries where they could get interviews faster. The updated policy closes that workaround.

Costs. The B-1/B-2 application fee is $185, paid up front and nonrefundable. Applicants who are issued a visa also pay a $250 Visa Integrity Fee at issuance, bringing the total to $435.

What happens if your visa is refused

The most common ground for B-1/B-2 refusal is Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which says you need to prove you don't intend to immigrate to the U.S.

You need to convince the officer reviewing your application that:

1. Your trip's purpose is genuine and time-limited.
2. You have the means to fund it.
3. You have strong ties to your home country.
4. Your answers are credible.

What makes 214(b) unusual is that it flips the standard burden of proof. In most cases, the government has to show that something is wrong. Under 214(b), the applicant has to prove the absence of something, specifically that they don't intend to immigrate. A match ticket is strong evidence of why you're going to the U.S., but it doesn't prove you intend to leave the U.S. when the tournament is over. That's the gap fans need to fill in for visa officers.

Saying you're attending the World Cup may not always be enough. Holding a ticket to a match doesn't override the standard B-1/B-2 burden of proof.

A 214(b) refusal isn't a permanent ban. Applicants can reapply at any time. But Urizar suggests speaking with an immigration attorney to get a better understanding of how to make your case clearer for officers who review your next application and conduct your interview.

The interview: Be ready to fill in the blanks the form doesn't cover

You'll need to sit for an interview during the process to receive your B-1/B-2 visa. The DS-160, the officer reads beforehand, is mostly structured fields, like dates, addresses, who's paying, not a place to explain your reasons for traveling. The interview is where the story gets told.

Be specific in your interview. Saying "tourism" or "the World Cup" isn't a complete answer. Be ready to tell the officer which matches, which cities, which dates, where you're staying, when you're leaving, and what you're returning home to.

Match the interview to the form. Inconsistencies between the DS-160 and your interview could result in a 214(b) refusal. Don't volunteer details beyond the question asked, and don't contradict what you put on the form.

Prove intent to leave. Demonstrate you have strong ties to your home country and a history of traveling internationally and returning home. This means you need to prove it's obvious you'll leave the U.S. when the trip you planned is over. Officers want to see specific, documented evidence, such as stable employment with a letter from an employer, ongoing business operations, property ownership, dependent family members, or active enrollment in school.

Age may play a role in the questions you're asked. Urizar has seen heightened scrutiny for applicants in their 20s, when people may still be forming what visa officers consider strong ties to a home country.

For example, a business owner in their 40s who is responsible for payroll and employees presents a clearer picture for an officer than a recent graduate with no fixed obligations. This doesn't mean fans in their 20s won't get visa approvals. It does mean you need to be more concrete about the specific reasons you have to come back.

A travel history showing that you've left other countries on time when visiting them is among the most persuasive pieces of evidence you can give.

Documents to keep with you, including at the stadium

The documents that got you admitted will resolve most questions that come up during your trip. Carrying copies of your passport, visa stamp, and travel confirmations is a good idea.

"Having copies of your important documents can make it easy to prove you're in compliance with immigration laws," Urizar said.

Consider carrying:

• Passport with the visa stamp page accessible. Carry it on travel days, but on nontravel days, carry a high-quality copy with you, and keep the original in a secure location.
• Printed I-94, downloaded from i94.cbp.dhs.gov after admission.
• ESTA approval confirmation (if applicable), printed.
• Match ticket and FIFA Fan ID.
• Return travel confirmation for the trip.
• Hotel or accommodation confirmations for the relevant dates.

Stadium bag policies vary by venue and will be tighter than usual during the tournament. FIFA's official venue guides are the source of record for what's permitted inside.

Your pre-trip checklist

• Passport valid for at least six months past the intended departure date.
• Correct authorization in hand for each country on the itinerary (ESTA or B-1/B-2 for the U.S.; eTA or TRV for Canada; FMM and any required visa for Mexico).
• Visa application filed in the country of nationality or residence.
• DS-160 reflects real itinerary details.
• Match tickets, hotel bookings, and return flights that are printed and accessible.
• Documented ties to your home country.
• I-94 downloaded from i94.cbp.dhs.gov within 24 hours of U.S. admission, and the Admit Until date checked against your return flight.
• A realistic plan for any borders you may need to cross during your trip.

"The U.S. immigration system can feel like a complicated test, even for short-term visitors," Urizar said. "But it's one that FIFA fans can pass with the right preparation."

This story was produced by Manifest Law and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Copyright 2026 Stacker Media, LLC

This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM.