What do you need as a fan for the 2026 World Cup?
It does not matter whether you travel to the US, Canada, or Mexico by land, sea, or air.
What else is important to know:
- A valid match ticket does not automatically mean you will be granted a visa or entry to the US, Canada, or Mexico.
- You can apply for a visa at any time. Due to the duration of the process, it is recommended to do so as early as possible.
- FIFA also advises ensuring that your passport does not expire before your planned trip – it is recommended to ensure that your passport is valid for at least one year after your trip.
Canada Travel Information
To travel to Canada, you may need a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Find out what you need to travel to Canada. Exactly which one you need depends on:
- Your citizenship
- The way you enter Canada
On this website: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/campaigns/soccer-2026.html you will find more information. By answering a few questions there, you can see exactly what you need.
An eTA costs only 7 CAD (Canadian dollars), which is equivalent to less than 5 euros.
An eTA is electronically linked to the passport with which the application was submitted. You can only submit the application via the official website of the Canadian government.
Mexico Travel Information
Permanent residents of Canada, the US, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Schengen countries (including the Netherlands and Belgium) do not require a visa to enter Mexico. This is provided that they enter the country as travelers undertaking unpaid activities (e.g., tourists), with a maximum stay of 180 days.
US Travel Information
Anyone attending the FIFA World Cup 2026™ must first know which documents are required to enter the United States. The U.S. Department of State website describes these requirements in detail and shows you the following:
In most cases, fans must submit one of the following requests:
- The ESTA visa waiver program; or
- a B1 visa (business) or B2 visa (tourist)
Citizens of 42 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) who do not yet hold a visitor visa are eligible to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business by participating in the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) visa waiver program. The Netherlands and Belgium are among these 42 countries.
ESTA Travel Information
ESTA is an electronic process. Please note that restrictions apply to persons with a second passport and/or persons who have traveled to certain countries – check the conditions carefully.
For most people, the ESTA covers a stay of 90 days in the United States within a one-year period – it is very important not to exceed these 90 days. The ESTA visa waiver is generally valid for a total period of two years, or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
B1/B2
If you are not eligible for ESTA or if your ESTA application is rejected, you must apply for a B1/B2 visa here: https://www.state.gov/fifa-world-cup-26
The general application procedure consists of the following steps and can be found in more detail on the website.
Ensure that you understand how long you are allowed to stay in the United States. Staying longer than the date permitted by the CBP, or longer than 90 consecutive days with an approved ESTA, may have consequences that could affect your ability to travel to the United States in the future and/or lead to other sanctions.
Trusted Traveler Programs
With millions of fans expected to travel to the FIFA World Cup 2026™, and with a large number of travelers for the usual summer activities, long queues are likely to form at airports and border crossings.
To expedite your journey, fans are advised to check if they are eligible for Trusted Traveler Programs. This allows them to benefit from expedited customs clearance upon arrival in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. These programs include:
For entry to the US:
- Individuals from a select number of countries may be eligible for Global Entry. Read more here: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry.
Op een select aantal Amerikaanse luchthavens kunnen reizigers met Global Entry zich ook registreren voor de Global Entry-app. Met deze app kunnen leden hun aankomst in de VS bevestigen op hun iOS- of Android-apparaat voordat ze het land binnenkomen: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/global-entry-mobile-application
For entry to Mexico:
E-GATES are available at various airports in Mexico, allowing eligible travelers to go through the immigration procedure automatically. E-Gates can be used by persons over the age of 18 visiting Mexico for tourist purposes who hold an electronic passport of the following nationalities: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, South Korea, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, United States. For World Cup fans, E-Gates can be found at the airports of Mexico City, Cancún, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, San José del Cabo, and Querétaro.
Important to know before departure:
The links below contain good tips on what you are and are not allowed to bring to the US, Canada, or Mexico for the 2026 World Cup.
VS: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/cbp-welcomes-you-fifa-world-cup-2026
Mexico: https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/eua/index.php/en/2016-04-09-20-40-51/tourism/1601-3-know-before-you-go
Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/soccer-2026/information-fans-travellers.html