The United States continues its border preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which they will co-host with Canada and Mexico.
In a statement released on May 18, 2026, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reports a high level of activity related to electronic travel authorizations, trusted traveler programs, and information tools for international visitors.
The U.S. government presents these preparations as a central element in welcoming the expected fans during the tournament. The competition, scheduled from June 11 to July 19, 2026, will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams. The United States will host 78 out of 104 matches and anticipate the arrival of over five million visitors on their territory.
More than 5.9 million ESTA applications were received between October 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026, within the Visa Waiver Program. These resulted in over 5 million approved travel authorizations.
The top five countries in terms of ESTA authorizations issued are the United Kingdom, with over 1.2 million ESTAs, followed by France with over 570,000 authorizations, Germany with over 530,000, Japan with over 500,000, and South Korea with over 320,000.
These figures do not only pertain to World Cup supporters but provide an indication of the expected border activity as the tournament approaches. Eligible travelers under the Visa Waiver Program must obtain an ESTA before their departure to the U.S., including when attending a sporting event.
The CBP emphasizes the importance of preparing for the trip in advance. International visitors are encouraged to check if they need an ESTA or visa, ensure their passport is valid for the entire stay, and familiarize themselves with prohibited items or restricted entry conditions when arriving in the U.S.
Matthew S. Davies, Executive Director of Eligibility and Passenger Management Programs at the Field Operations Office, explains that the CBP is proactively preparing to ensure a smooth and efficient welcome for visitors. He highlights that tools such as trusted traveler programs or Mobile Passport Control can help streamline arrivals while maintaining border security checks.
The CBP also emphasizes that all travelers must adhere to the conditions of their visa or travel authorization. In case of violations of U.S. laws or stay conditions, visitors may face detention and deportation.
Aside from ESTA, the CBP received over 1.6 million applications for Trusted Traveler programs between October 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026, including Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS.
These programs allow pre-approved and low-risk travelers to benefit from expedited procedures at certain airports and land border checkpoints. The CBP is working with national and international partners to maintain enrollment capacities in the months leading up to the tournament.
For foreign travelers, Global Entry can provide faster entry into participating U.S. airports, subject to eligibility, pre-approval, and compliance with program conditions.
The CBP highlights COMPASS, its new interactive and secure virtual assistant for travelers heading to the U.S. for the 2026 World Cup. Launched on April 1, 2026, the tool has reportedly answered over 25,000 questions in just over a month.
COMPASS can address questions about general entry conditions into the U.S., ESTA, Trusted Traveler programs, EVUS, and the I-94 form. The assistant is accessible through several CBP pages related to the World Cup, as well as the askcompass.cbp.gov website.
The goal for international supporters is to have a centralized information point before departure, especially to differentiate between ESTA, visa, or other entry formalities.
The CBP also discusses preparations related to international charter flights and general aviation aircraft transporting teams, officials, and some supporters during the tournament.
Pilots and operators of general aviation aircraft will need to submit a comprehensive manifest via the APIS system, obtain authorization to land at CBP entry points, and coordinate their operations with relevant authorities.
The CBP has issued guidance documents to assist operators in better anticipating arrival and departure procedures during the tournament period.
