Entering the United States – 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup will take place mainly in the United States. To attend, a valid ESTA travel authorization is required before departure.
Essential for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
To be presented upon boarding and arrival.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place largely in the United States and will attract millions of international fans. To attend the matches, travelers must comply with the entry documents required by U.S. authorities. No specific immigration procedure linked to the World Cup is planned: standard rules fully apply, including during the event. For nationals of visa-exempt countries, a valid ESTA is mandatory to board and legally enter the United States, including for transit. Without these documents, access to the aircraft or entry into the United States may be refused. Here is what to check before departure.
⭐ Key points — 2026 World Cup in the United States
- 🇺🇸 A valid ESTA is mandatory to attend the 2026 World Cup in the United States.
- ❌ There is no special exemption or visa related to the World Cup.
- 🔁 The ESTA is required even for simple transit through the USA.
- ⏳ The authorization must be obtained before boarding.
- ✅ The ESTA allows a tourist or sporting stay of up to 90 days.
- ⚠️ Without an approved ESTA, boarding may be refused.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place largely in the United States, attracting millions of fans from around the world. While the event is sporting, entry formalities remain strictly administrative. To travel to the United States on the occasion of the 2026 World Cup, certain travel documents are mandatory, with no exception related to the competition.
Contrary to what many travelers believe, attending a football match does not grant any special immigration status. U.S. authorities apply the same rules as usual, whether your trip is motivated by tourism, a sporting event, or simple transit.
🛂 No “World Cup visa” exists.
FIFA does not issue travel authorizations and the United States has planned no specific exemption for supporters. The 2026 World Cup does not relax entry rules nor immigration controls.
👉 The usual formalities apply in all cases.
The type of document required depends solely on your nationality, not on your match ticket or supporter status.
📄 To enter U.S. territory for the 2026 World Cup, authorities require several documents, to be presented both at boarding and on arrival.
The mandatory travel documents generally include:
⚠️ In the absence of any of these documents, boarding may be refused by the airline, even before arrival in the United States.
Not all nationalities are subject to the same rules. For the 2026 World Cup in the United States, two main situations exist:
🖥️ The ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is an electronic travel authorization that allows nationals of certain countries to enter the United States without a visa, under the Visa Waiver Program.
👉 For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the ESTA is fully sufficient for eligible travelers.
⚠️ Please note: the ESTA is mandatory before departure. Without an approved authorization, boarding will be refused.
🌍 Nationals of many European and partner countries benefit from the Visa Waiver Program and may travel with an ESTA.
👉 It is essential to verify your eligibility, as the list depends on your nationality and may change.
🔗 You can consult the complete and up-to-date list of eligible countries in our dedicated article on ESTA-eligible nationalities.
This verification is essential before booking any flight or match tickets for the 2026 World Cup.
❌ Some travelers are not eligible for the ESTA and must apply for a U.S. visa, even to attend a football match.
This notably applies to:
📅 A visa application involves:
👉 For the 2026 World Cup, it is strongly recommended to anticipate these steps several months in advance.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States and Canada, meaning that many supporters may attend matches in both countries during the same trip. While this geographic proximity facilitates travel, it nevertheless requires separate formalities at each border crossing. Traveling between Canada and the United States during the 2026 World Cup therefore requires rigorous administrative preparation, under the risk of boarding denial or refusal of entry.
🇨🇦 ➡️ 🇺🇸 or 🇺🇸 ➡️ 🇨🇦
Each border crossing is considered a new international entry. Authorities do not provide any simplification related to the sporting event.
🔎 The documents generally required when crossing between Canada and the United States include:
⚠️ Even if you already hold a previously issued authorization, it is essential to verify its exact validity, especially in case of passport change or expiration.
✅ Yes.
If you leave the United States for Canada and then return to U.S. soil, a valid ESTA is mandatory, even if the round trip lasts only a few days.
🛑 A common mistake among supporters is thinking that a single initial entry into the United States covers the entire trip. In reality:
👉 This rule also applies to:
During the 2026 World Cup, when travel volumes will be high, checks may be stricter, especially regarding document consistency.
⚽ While both the ESTA and the eTA are electronic travel authorizations, they follow different rules and should not be confused.
🇺🇸 U.S. ESTA
🇨🇦 Canada eTA
👉 A supporter following several football matches during the 2026 World Cup may therefore need both authorizations, depending on the itinerary.
Anticipating your formalities is essential to travel smoothly during the 2026 World Cup. The ESTA must be obtained before boarding, without exception.
⏳ Officially, the ESTA can be issued quickly. However, it is strongly recommended to:
📈 As the 2026 World Cup approaches, travel authorization requests are expected to increase significantly, which may lead to:
📌 Anticipating allows you to:
⚠️ An approved ESTA does not guarantee entry, but its absence almost always results in refusal before departure.
✅ In summary
For the 2026 World Cup, traveling between Canada and the United States requires particular attention to documents, authorizations, and formalities. Checking your ESTA, eTA, and passport in advance is essential to fully enjoy the event, without unpleasant surprises at the borders.
Find out if your question has been answered in the list below
Yes. There is no specific visa or document related to the 2026 World Cup. Supporters must comply with the standard entry rules. Citizens of visa-exempt countries must have a valid ESTA to enter or transit through the United States, even for a short stay dedicated to football.
It all depends on your nationality. Travellers from a country participating in the Visa Waiver Programme can travel to the United States without a visa, provided they have an approved ESTA. Other nationalities must apply for a US visa. Match tickets or sporting events do not affect these requirements.
The US authorities may request several documents: a valid passport, an ESTA or visa, a departure ticket, proof of accommodation and sufficient financial resources. These checks may take place upon boarding or arrival, including during the 2026 World Cup.
Each border crossing is considered a new international entry. To return to the United States from Canada, a valid ESTA is required. To enter Canada by air, a Canadian eTA may be required. Supporters attending multiple matches often need to obtain both authorizations.