The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, is setting new standards in global border management and travel facilitation. According to a new report by the World Travel & Tourism Council, the tournament represents the culmination of two decades of innovation aimed at creating safer, faster and more seamless international travel experiences.
As the largest FIFA World Cup ever, featuring 48 teams and three host nations, the event has adopted advanced digital border systems to handle unprecedented travel volumes. A key feature is the “trusted travel” model, which allows pre-approved, low-risk travellers to enjoy quicker and more predictable border clearance while maintaining strong security measures.
In the United States, more than 5.9 million ESTA applications were submitted ahead of the tournament, with over 5 million approvals granted. Additionally, more than 1.6 million travellers enrolled in trusted traveller programmes such as Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI, enabling expedited border processing across the host countries.
Technology has also enhanced the visitor experience through tools such as FIFA PASS, which prioritises visa appointments for ticket holders, and COMPASS, an AI-powered digital assistant that helps travellers navigate entry requirements efficiently. These innovations have reduced complexity for visitors while supporting border authorities.
Canada and Mexico have introduced complementary measures to streamline travel. Mexico offers visa-free access to citizens of more than 65 countries and facilitates entry for travellers holding valid visas from several major destinations. Canada has expanded the use of eTA approvals, NEXUS lanes and the ArriveCAN platform to speed up customs and immigration procedures.
WTTC noted that each FIFA World Cup since 2006 has contributed to the evolution of border management, from Germany’s visa facilitation efforts to Qatar’s Hayya digital ecosystem. Looking ahead to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will span six countries across three continents, the organisation believes interoperable digital systems will play a critical role in enabling secure and seamless global travel.
