India, Jan. 21 -- The United States has launched a fast-track visa programme, FIFA PASS, to ease travel for millions of international fans ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Starting January 20, the US State Department will offer priority visa interview appointments to confirmed World Cup ticket holders, aiming to speed up consular processing while maintaining strict immigration and security standards.

To manage the expected surge in applications, the department is deploying over 500 additional consular officers globally and has reduced visa wait times to under 60 days in more than 80 per cent of countries.

The FIFA World Cup 2026, featuring 48 teams, will begin on June 11 and be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, w...