Trump Administration Preparations for FIFA World Cup 2026™ Pay Off

CBP has received over 5.9 million ESTA applications and 1.6 million Trusted Traveler Programs applications

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported increases in travel authorizations from FIFA World Cup 2026™ qualified nations, through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, VISA Waiver Program and Trusted Traveler Programs. As the United States continues to prepare for this summer's tournament, these significant achievements are crucial to ensure a safe, successful, and welcoming tournament, which will be the largest and most complex sporting event in world history.

"CBP is proactively preparing for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ to ensure a safe and efficient welcome for all visitors," said Executive Director Matthew S. Davies, Admissibility and Passenger Programs, Office of Field Operations. "When travelers plan ahead and use tools like our Trusted Traveler Programs and Mobile Passport Control, it helps us uphold border security, protect U.S. agriculture and ensure a seamless and efficient traveler experience."

From Oct. 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026, CBP received over 5.9 million ESTA applications under the VWP, resulting in over 5 million approvals. The top five nations for approvals were the United Kingdom with over 1.2 million, followed by France (over 570,000), Germany (over 530,000), Japan (over 500,000), and the Republic of Korea (over 320,000).

During the same period, CBP received over 1.6 million TTP applications for Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS. These programs provide expedited processing for preapproved, low risk travelers at participating airports and land border crossings, helping reduce wait times and creating a more predictable travel experience. CBP is coordinating closely with domestic and international partners to maintain enrollment capacity in the months leading up to the tournament.

This year's World Cup will be the first in history to host 48 teams and the first to be co-hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada and Mexico. The United States is expected to host 78 of the tournament's 104 matches, bringing in more than five million visitors to the country.

As fans finalize plans for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, CBP encourages all international travelers to visit the FIFA World Cup 2026™ on the CBP website. Travelers should also review the CBP and FIFA 2026 Know Before You Go travel fact sheet to:

• Confirm whether they need ESTA authorization under the VWP or a visa and apply well before their departure date.
• Ensure their passports are valid for the required period through the duration of their international travel.
• Review what items are prohibited or restricted from entry, including certain food, plant, and animal products.
• Be prepared to declare all food, plants, animal products, currency and monetary instruments, and any recent farm or animal contact to CBP officers upon arrival.
• Use the Mobile Passport Control app for a streamlined arrival process at participating airports.

Questions about U.S. entry requirements, including information on ESTA, TTP programs, EVUS, or I-94? Ask COMPASS.

In support of FIFA, CBP's interactive, secure, virtual assistant named COMPASS went live on April 1, 2026. In just over a month, COMPASS has answered over 25,000 questions covering topics from general entry requirements to inquiries related to ESTA and Global Entry. COMPASS is an interactive, secure, virtual assistant designed to assist travelers attending the FIFA World Cup 2026TM. The link to COMPASS is found across multiple CBP websites to include the CBP FIFA landing page, or it can be accessed at askcompass.cbp.gov.

In addition, as the United States prepares for FIFA World Cup 2026™, CBP is laying the groundwork for the increased international charter and corporate aircraft that will be transporting teams, officials, and fans to the tournament.

Pilots and operators of general aviation aircraft arriving in or departing from the United States must meet specific CBP requirements, including:

• Transmitting a complete and accurate Advance Passenger Information System manifest
• Obtaining explicit permission to land from the CBP port of arrival before departing a foreign location
• Directly coordinating with the responsible CBP port to understand local operating procedures and any capacity or timing constraints
• Updating CBP with amended APIS transmissions if there are changes to the aircraft, passengers, or crew and reconfirming permission to land

To help operators plan, CBP's General Aviation Processing Lifecycle outlines key stages-from initial feasibility checks to pre flight coordination and day of arrival or departure procedures-to help process GA flights more efficiently. CBP has also issued an updated General Aviation Arrival and Departure Procedures fact sheet to help pilots and operators understand their responsibilities and coordinate directly with CBP ports of entry for smoother arrivals and departures.

For more information, GA pilots and operators may contact the CBP General Aviation support team at [email protected].

CBP reminds all visitors they must meet legal requirements, have proper documents, undergo background checks and inspection, and adhere to visa terms. If statutes or visa terms are violated, travelers may be subject to detention and removal. For more information on visas and passports, please visit travel.state.gov. Travelers may also visit the Know Before You Go page on CBP.gov.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 69,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We enforce safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.

• Topics
• General Aviation
• Global Entry
• I-94
• International Visitor
• Know Before You Go
• Know Before You Visit
• Travel
• Trusted Traveler Programs