U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that more than 1 million Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approvals were granted to travelers from nations qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 during the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2026. The United Kingdom accounted for over 425,000 approvals, followed by France with more than 215,000, Germany with over 190,000, Japan with nearly 180,000, and the Republic of Korea with more than 135,000.
In addition to ESTA applications under the Visa Waiver Program—which totaled approximately 1.6 million—there were also over 656,000 applications submitted for Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP), including Global Entry, SENTRI (Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection), and NEXUS. Of these TTP applications, about 584,000 came from U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents; Canadian NEXUS members submitted around 62,000 applications; and another 20,000 Global Entry applicants came from other partner qualifying nations.
Matthew Davies, executive director of Admissibility and Passenger Programs at CBP’s Office of Field Operations stated: “CBP is committed to ensuring safe and lawful travel for all visitors attending the FIFA World Cup 2026. By expanding participation in our Trusted Traveler Programs and ESTA, we are helping all travelers spend less time in line and more time enjoying their experience in the United States, while maintaining strong border security.”
To prepare for an expected increase in international arrivals during the FIFA World Cup in North America—the event is projected to bring millions of visitors—CBP has been conducting mobile enrollment events for Global Entry in key countries such as Germany and Croatia. Another event is scheduled to take place in Sydney from February 23-27.
Joint NEXUS enrollment events are also being held by CBP together with the Canada Border Services Agency to facilitate expedited processing between both countries. The most recent took place in Fort Lauderdale on January 28–29; another is planned at Boeing Field in Seattle from February 23-27.
CBP recommends that eligible travelers apply early for TTP or ESTA authorization before traveling to ensure a smoother entry process into the United States. More information can be found on CBP.gov.
The agency employs over 67,000 personnel who work across various domains—including land borders, airspace operations, and maritime enforcement—to support secure travel and trade as well as economic prosperity through innovation and collaboration.
