The 2026 tournament is the largest FIFA World Cup in history, featuring 48 teams and becoming the first edition to be hosted jointly by three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico. According to WTTC, the scale of the event has accelerated the adoption of digital border technologies designed to support secure and efficient international travel.
Central to the approach is a trusted travel model that allows pre-approved, low-risk travellers to benefit from faster and more predictable border clearance procedures while maintaining security requirements.
In the United States, more than 5.9 million Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) applications were submitted ahead of the tournament, with more than 5 million approvals enabling visa-free travel. In addition, more than 1.6 million travellers enrolled in Trusted Traveller Programmes, including Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI, allowing expedited entry across the borders of the three host nations.
Additional traveller facilitation measures include FIFA PASS, which prioritises visa appointments for ticket holders, and COMPASS, an AI-powered digital assistant designed to help travellers understand entry requirements while assisting border authorities in managing demand.
Mexico has enabled visa-free entry for citizens of more than 65 countries for stays of up to 180 days. Travellers holding valid visas or residency permits from the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom or the Schengen Area are also exempt from Mexican tourism visa requirements. The country has further expanded its trusted traveller programme, Viajero Confiable, allowing eligible travellers to use automated kiosks and expedited immigration lanes at participating airports.
In Canada, travellers have been required to obtain either a Visitor Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before arrival. Authorities encouraged applicants to reference “FIFA World Cup 26” in support of timely processing. Eligible travellers have been able to use the NEXUS programme for expedited clearance, while the ArriveCAN app has enabled visitors to complete customs and immigration declarations up to 72 hours before arrival through its Advance Declaration feature. The programme provides access to express lanes at major airports, including those serving host cities Toronto and Vancouver.
How World Cups changed travel facilitation
WTTC’s research identifies the 2026 tournament as the latest stage in a 20-year transformation of border management systems, moving from traditional visa processing towards integrated digital ecosystems that connect identity verification, border entry, mobility services and traveller information.
According to the report, Germany 2006 focused on managing visa facilitation within the Schengen framework, while South Africa 2010 introduced the Event Visa and advance passenger pre-screening measures. Brazil 2014 implemented specialised legal frameworks and tailored visa categories. Russia 2018 launched the FAN ID system, integrating entry procedures, transportation and stadium access. Qatar 2022 expanded this concept through the Hayya digital ecosystem, which subsequently evolved into a permanent national e-visa platform.
WTTC states that these tournaments demonstrate how major international events can act as catalysts for long-term changes in border management. The organisation notes that digital identity solutions, advance traveller screening and interoperable systems are increasingly becoming part of modern travel infrastructure.
“The FIFA World Cup has consistently demonstrated that border management can evolve from a barrier into an enabler of global connectivity. From Germany’s early focus on visa facilitation to the trusted traveller solutions seen in 2026, we are witnessing the emergence of a new model for travel. One that is digital, secure, and seamless at scale.
The lessons from these tournaments show that digital identity and strong pre-travel screening can enhance both entry processes and the overall traveller experience. Developing interoperable, multi-jurisdictional systems will be the next frontier. Not only for mega-events, but for global travel, helping deliver safer, faster and more seamless journeys for everyone.”
Looking ahead, WTTC notes that the need for coordinated and interoperable border management solutions is expected to increase as major international events become larger and more geographically distributed. The organisation highlights the FIFA World Cup 2030, which is scheduled to span six nations across three continents, as a future test case for seamless cross-border mobility and coordinated traveller management.
Tags: FIFA World Cup WTTC