Hello, this is Matsui from IMS Legal Professional Corporation. The draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 has been held, and the group stage match schedule has now been finalized. Japan’s national team will play on the following dates:
- June 14: vs. Netherlands @ Dallas, USA
- June 20: vs. Tunisia @ Monterrey, Mexico
- June 25: vs. Albania / Poland / Sweden / Ukraine @ Dallas, USA
The players and team staff will most likely travel by chartered flights, so crossing national borders should not pose any major issues for them. However, for supporters who wish to follow all three group-stage matches on site, traveling across borders will be unavoidable and may require considerable planning. Just as important as securing match tickets is thinking ahead about visa and entry requirements. Even if you manage to secure tickets, flights, and hotel accommodations, that alone does not guarantee that you will be able to watch the matches in person.
Based on our research, Japanese nationals do not require a visa for tourist stays of up to 180 days in Mexico. Similarly, for tourism purposes, Japanese nationals do not need a visa to enter the United States. However, travelers must obtain prior authorization through ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before traveling. Without ESTA approval, you will not even be allowed to board a flight to the United States.
If you have no arrest or criminal history, no prior U.S. entry refusal or overstay, no history of U.S. visa denial, and no travel history to certain countries such as Iran or Cuba, most people should be able to obtain ESTA without difficulty. That said, ESTA applications are extremely strict, and even a simple input error can result in denial. In principle, there is no opportunity to correct or reapply once an application has been refused.
Currently, ESTA allows applicants to upload the passport biographical page, which helps reduce errors in personal information. However, denials still frequently occur due to incorrect answers to the eligibility questions. If your ESTA application is denied, the only remaining way to enter the United States is to apply for and obtain a U.S. visa.
To ensure a smooth and stress-free World Cup experience, we strongly recommend planning your entry and visa arrangements well in advance.
If Your ESTA Is Denied…
If your ESTA application is denied despite having no apparent issues, or if you later discover a clear input error, you should contact the authority that oversees ESTA, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Inquiries can be made by email or by phone. However, as a general rule, CBP will provide only general responses unless the inquiry is made directly by the applicant (or by a parent in the case of a minor). Therefore, you will usually need to handle this process on your own.
In some cases, it may be possible to have an incorrect application canceled. That said, cancellations are most commonly granted in cases involving applications for infants or very young children. If the application is successfully canceled, be sure to submit a new ESTA application carefully, ensuring that all information is accurate.
When Should You Apply for a Visa?
If, for any reason, you are unable to use ESTA, the only remaining option is to apply for a visa. For tourism purposes, this means obtaining a B visa. With about six months remaining until the World Cup, some people may think that if ESTA is denied, they can simply apply for a visa at that time. However, taking such a relaxed approach may result in being unable to obtain a visa in time to attend the World Cup.
In principle, a U.S. visa application requires an in-person interview. To attend the interview, you must first secure an interview appointment, but interview slots remain extremely limited. As of now, the earliest available B visa interview appointment in Tokyo is in April of next year. If the visa is approved at the interview, it is typically issued within about one week, meaning there is still a good chance to make it in time if you act now. However, if you delay, interview slots could quickly become unavailable until summer.
If you are determined to attend the World Cup in person, apply for ESTA immediately. ESTA is valid for up to two years (or until your passport expires, if sooner), so obtaining it now versus in June makes little practical difference. If ESTA is not an option for you, begin preparing your B visa application right away. Interview appointment availability is becoming more limited every day.
Important Points to Note When Traveling Between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada
The 2026 World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, lasting just over one month. If you plan to stay in the U.S. for the entire tournament, entering under ESTA generally poses no problem, as the maximum permitted stay under ESTA is 90 days.
However, if you are considering staying in the U.S. for a longer period in connection with World Cup travel, there are important points to be aware of. When entering the U.S. under ESTA, you must depart the country within 90 days of entry; otherwise, you will be considered an overstayer. Some people mistakenly believe that if they leave the U.S. near the end of the 90-day period to travel briefly to Mexico or Canada and then re-enter the U.S., the 90-day period will reset and a new 90 days will be granted. This is incorrect.
If you enter the U.S. under ESTA, then travel to Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean, and subsequently return to the U.S., the time you previously spent in the U.S. will be deducted from the original 90-day period. For example, if you stay in the U.S. for 80 days, depart to Mexico, and then return to the U.S., you will typically be granted only the remaining 10 days. It is not uncommon for travelers to mistakenly assume they have a full 90 days again, only to realize too late that they have overstayed.
In addition, while we hope this will not be a major issue during the World Cup period, crossing borders means undergoing immigration inspection each time you enter a country. Each inspection carries a certain risk of being denied entry. Many Japanese nationals have been refused entry to the U.S. for reasons such as unknowingly carrying prohibited items, carrying large amounts of cash, having an extensive travel history that raised suspicion, or being suspected of unauthorized employment. As the World Cup will be jointly hosted by three countries, cross-border travel is likely to be common, so we strongly advise exercising caution.
Please note that this blog is based on information available at the time of writing. For the most up-to-date information, readers are responsible for confirming details through official government websites and other authoritative sources.
For more information, please contact us below ↓
https://imsvisa.support/en/contact/
