DOS Prioritizes Attendees of Sports Events, Investors; Announces “FIFA PASS” Initiative

According to reports, the Department of State (DOS) has sent cables to all diplomatic and consular posts instructing them to prioritize visa applications for U.S. visitors coming for major sports events, including the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics, and businesspeople considering “significant investments.”

As part of this effort, DOS announced a new “FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (PASS),” an initiative to prioritize attendees of World Cup events in the United States in 2026. DOS said that further information regarding the FIFA PASS “will be shared with ticket holders in early 2026.”

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