This document provides guidance for international travellers seeking visa and immigration information for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament will take place across 16 cities in three host countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico, from mid-June to July 2026.
The expanded format includes 48 teams and a projected attendance of over 5.5 million visitors. Visitors are advised to confirm visa requirements specific to their nationality before travel.
For those attending matches hosted in the United States, the following visa types may apply:
Visitors travelling to matches hosted in Toronto and Vancouver must observe Canadian immigration procedures:
Travellers are advised to use the official Canada Immigration website to verify eligibility and processing timelines. Entry facilitation measures will be enacted to ensure operational efficiency throughout the tournament.
Visitors entering Mexico for matches in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey may require:
The Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) will provide express processing channels at points of entry for accredited personnel.
Travellers should ensure their travel documentation allows entry to all relevant countries. Inter-country travel across North America will be frequent and may involve multiple immigration checkpoints.
To optimise travel efficiency and manage fan mobility, matches will be clustered into three main regional zones:
Each host country has committed to upgrading relevant airports, stadiums, and checkpoints to accommodate the increased inflow. FIFA requires that:
Governments have also agreed to:
Honour tax exemptions for FIFA and affiliated entities from appointment through December 2028.
The following individuals are granted facilitated entry procedures:
All work permits and visas for these categories are to be issued without restrictions or discretionary delays. Each government must guarantee timely issuance of legitimate permits for tournament-related activities.
In accordance with FIFA’s guidelines, no individual should be denied access due to nationality or background, provided standard immigration policies are observed.
Visa-free access may be permitted where host countries agree and will be clearly published through government channels.
It is anticipated that a considerable number of foreign nationals will enter and exit the Host Country/Host Countries because the FIFA World Cup is a global athletic event in which teams from all 211 FIFA member associations may compete and which poses enormous organizational issues. This includes:
To meet the demands of the various groups of individuals, the Government is urged to develop a visa-free environment or to streamline the visa application process. All visa procedures must be applied in a non-discriminatory manner.
The Competition’s success will largely depend on the ease with which foreign nationals may visit the Host Country/Host Countries in connection with the Competition (also at short notice). It is acknowledged, however, that such ease of access to the Host Country/Countries must in no way compromise national immigration and security norms in the Host Country/Countries.
In addition, to support the preparation, organization, hosting, and staging of the Competition, the Government must ensure that certain individuals have access to expedited immigration procedures, such as express lanes and other specialized services. In particular, the persons participating in the planning and organisation of the Competition must be empowered to carry out their jobs in an efficient manner.
In 2023, the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey could host the final, but that decision has yet to be made.
The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which has a capacity of 82,500, is the frontrunner to host the final.
The Azteca in Mexico has been proposed as a potential opening match venue.
Both locations are candidates to host the 2026 final.
