ESTA for the 2026 World Cup
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the United States is seeing a record surge in ESTA applications, highlighting the importance of planning travel formalities in advance.
The United States is preparing to welcome millions of visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Less than a year before the event, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a historic record in Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) applications. This trend reflects not only the global excitement surrounding the competition, but also the importance of planning visa-free entry formalities to the United States in advance.
🧭 Key takeaways
- 🇺🇸 More than one million ESTAs already approved ahead of the 2026 World Cup
- 🌍 The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan and South Korea lead the applications
- ⏱️ Strong increase in registrations for the Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI programs
- 🎟️ U.S. authorities encourage travelers to plan their procedures in advance
- 📄 The ESTA remains valid for 2 years, but must be renewed in case of a new passport or name change
- ⚠️ Interview slots for trusted traveler programs are filling up quickly
Since the beginning of fiscal year 2026, CBP has approved a record number of ESTAs for nationals of countries benefiting from the Visa Waiver Program. The United Kingdom is largely in the lead with more than 425,000 approved authorizations, followed by France, Germany, Japan and South Korea. This distribution reflects both the popularity of football in these countries and their strong tradition of transatlantic travel during major sporting events.
For U.S. authorities, this trend confirms that the 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be one of the most attended events of the decade. It also highlights the importance of screening travelers in advance through ESTA in order to avoid congestion at borders and airports.
🧭 What the key figures show:
- ⚽ More than 1 million ESTAs already approved in just a few months
- 🌍 Around 1.6 million applications submitted in total
- ✈️ Growing logistical pressure as 2026 approaches
As a reminder, ESTA is mandatory for all travelers from countries eligible for the Visa Waiver Program who wish to travel to the United States without a visa for a short tourist or business stay. Valid for two years, this authorization must nevertheless be renewed in case of a passport change or a change in civil status.
In the context of the World Cup, many travelers are already organizing trips with family or in groups. However, these situations can raise specific questions, especially for children or for multiple applications submitted at the same time. This is why it is often recommended to rely on assistance for an ESTA application to travel to the United States as a family, in a group or with children, in order to avoid mistakes and centralize the procedures for all participants in the trip.
Beyond families, many fans are also planning organized trips, sometimes at the last minute, depending on sports results or ticket availability. In this case, timing becomes crucial. Even if ESTA is often issued quickly, some situations require priority handling. There are therefore dedicated solutions for an urgent ESTA application to obtain travel authorization quickly before an imminent departure.
Statistics published by U.S. Customs and Border Protection highlight a strong concentration of ESTA applications from a few major source markets. At the top, the United Kingdom alone accounts for around 425,000 approved authorizations, confirming the weight of transatlantic flows and the enthusiasm of British fans for the 2026 World Cup. France follows with nearly 215,000 authorizations, ahead of Germany with more than 190,000. In Asia, Japan records around 180,000 approved applications, while South Korea crosses the threshold of 135,000.
🧭 In summary:
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: ~425,000 approved ESTAs
- 🇫🇷 France: ~215,000
- 🇩🇪 Germany: ~190,000
- 🇯🇵 Japan: ~180,000
- 🇰🇷 South Korea: ~135,000
This ranking reflects both the popularity of football in these countries, their historical proximity to major international events and their strong propensity to travel to the United States during major competitions.
Alongside ESTA, Trusted Traveler programs (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI) are also experiencing strong growth. More than 650,000 applications have been recorded over the same period, mainly from U.S. citizens and permanent residents, but also from Canadian and eligible international travelers.
These programs allow pre-approved travelers to benefit from expedited screening, significantly reducing waiting times at borders. For U.S. authorities, the objective is clear: absorb the massive influx expected in 2026 while maintaining a high level of security.
🛂 The benefits highlighted by CBP:
- ⏱️ Less time spent in queues
- 🔍 Enhanced screening before travel
- ✈️ Better predictability for airports and airlines
- 🏟️ Smoother management of peaks linked to major sporting events
With the 2026 World Cup, but also the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028, the United States is preparing for a series of major events. In this context, authorities strongly encourage travelers to not wait until the last minute to complete their procedures.
An error in the form, an expired passport or incorrect information can be enough to delay a departure or even prevent boarding. For those who need reliable information or an official contact, it is useful to consult a page bringing together useful information and contact points regarding ESTA, procedures and available assistance.
🧠 To remember before leaving:
- 📄 ESTA is valid for 2 years, but must be renewed in case of a new passport
- ✍️ Information must be accurate and up to date
- ⏳ Planning ahead avoids delays and boarding refusals
- 🧳 Peak periods increase processing times
The figures released by CBP confirm that the 2026 World Cup will not only be a major sporting event, but also a large-scale logistical and administrative challenge for the United States. With more than one million ESTAs already approved and hundreds of thousands of registrations for trusted traveler programs, the machine is already in motion.
For travelers, the message is clear: it is better to organize early, check your documents and anticipate your procedures in order to fully enjoy the event, without administrative stress as departure approaches.
Find out if your question has been answered in the list below
The 2026 World Cup, largely hosted in the United States, is already attracting millions of fans. U.S. authorities are seeing a massive increase in ESTA applications, as this authorization is mandatory for visa-free travel. Travelers are anticipating their procedures to secure entry into the country and avoid delays as the tournament approaches.
According to CBP, the United Kingdom is largely in the lead with around 425,000 approved authorizations, followed by France, Germany, Japan and South Korea. This distribution reflects both enthusiasm for football and the importance of tourist flows to the United States during major international events.
Yes, U.S. authorities recommend planning ahead. Even if ESTA is often issued quickly, the high demand linked to the World Cup may lengthen processing times. In addition, any error or passport change requires a new application, which can jeopardize a planned departure in the short term.