The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the majority of matches in the US. If you are travelling to a US venue, the first question is simple but high-stakes: do you need a US visa, or can you travel on an ESTA? The answer depends entirely on your passport.
ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) — for 42 countries
Citizens of the 42 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries do not need a visa for tourism or business stays of 90 days or less. Instead they apply online for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before travel. The VWP list includes the UK, most of the EU, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Chile, Israel and Qatar (Qatar joined in 2024).
- Cost: about USD 40, paid online.
- Validity: two years (or until your passport expires), multiple trips.
- Stay: up to 90 days per visit.
- Apply at least 72 hours before travel via the official CBP ESTA site — never a third-party copycat.
B-1/B-2 visitor visa — for everyone else
If your country is not in the Visa Waiver Program, you need a B-1/B-2 visitor visa to attend the World Cup. You apply at a US embassy or consulate, complete the DS-160 form, pay the fee and attend an in-person interview.
- MRV application fee: USD 185 (non-refundable).
- Interview: required for most applicants; bring evidence of strong ties to your home country.
- Admission: B-2 visitors are typically admitted for up to six months at the border.
The single biggest risk is timing. Visa interview appointment wait times vary enormously between consulates — from a few days in some cities to many months in others. If you need a B-1/B-2 visa for the tournament, apply as early as possible and do not book non-refundable travel until your visa is issued.
The new $250 Visa Integrity Fee — legislated, but not yet charged
A USD 250 "Visa Integrity Fee" was created by US law (the 2025 budget reconciliation act, signed 4 July 2025) and would apply on top of the $185 fee for most nonimmigrant visas. Important: as of mid-2026 it is not yet being collected. The Department of State has not issued implementation guidance, and the fee is expected to be charged at the time of visa issuance once rulemaking is finalised — likely within fiscal year 2026. We will update this post when collection actually begins. Until then, the only mandatory cost for a B-1/B-2 application remains the $185 MRV fee.
Travelling to more than one host country?
A US visa or ESTA does not cover Canada or Mexico — each host country has its own rules. For Canada you need either an eTA (CAD 7, online, valid five years) or a visitor visa (CAD 100 plus CAD 85 biometrics), depending on your nationality. For Mexico, every visitor needs an FMM permit valid up to 180 days; many nationalities are visa-free, and several visa-required passports can skip the Mexican visa if they already hold a valid US, Canadian, Schengen, UK or Japanese visa.
Check your exact requirement
Requirements differ by passport, and a wrong assumption can mean being denied boarding. Look up your nationality on our verified pages: United States entry, Canada, and Mexico. We check every fact against official government sources and date each review.