The Trump administration revealed a surge in approvals for Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) applications on Monday from countries that don’t require tourist visas, ahead of the FIFA World Cup next month.
Read more Do Eagles Already Have an A.J. Brown Trade Ready to Go?
With over five million approvals in recent months, the surge in visitors from select countries could be seen as a boost for the U.S. tourism industry, after months of warnings from organizations worried that the federal government’s immigration policies would put many soccer fans off from attending the event, and tighter restrictions on other countries.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which administers the ESTA program, said it was committed to ensuring the competition, which will also take place in Canada and Mexico, will be safe and welcoming.
Catherine Prather, president of the National Tour Association, a professional trade association for packaged-travel specialists, welcomed the figures.
“This is great news, especially in light of the recent downturn in international visitors,” she said in a statement to Newsweek. “Tourism is a major economic driver across the United States, supporting millions of U.S. jobs and generating billions of tax revenues for local, state, and federal governments.
“The World Cup is an important stage to showcase our friendly, inclusive American spirit, and it’s so important that all Americans are welcoming toward our international guests. When they go home sharing stories about the tremendous experience they had in the United States, they’ll encourage others to visit, too.”
What Is the ESTA Program?
ESTA is the term most commonly associated with the Visa Waiver Program, which allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the United States without a visa.
Nationals from these countries can visit the U.S. without a tourist visa and are eligible for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Currently, the program costs visitors $40, compared to the B visitor visa, which costs at least $185.
Administrations can pick and choose which countries can participate, and if it is determined that travelers from a country pose an elevated risk to national security, they can be removed from the program.
Read more Donald Trump’s Impeachment Revenge Could Come Back to Bite
ESTA Approval Surge: What To Know
CBP said Monday that it had seen over 5.9 million ESTA applications between October 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026, with over 5 million of those approved.
The five countries with the most approvals were:
- United Kingdom – 1.2 million
- France – 570,000
- Germany – 530,000
- Japan – 500,000
- Republic of Korea – 320,000
The agency, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), also said it had received over 1.6 million Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) applications for Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS. All three provide expedited processing at airports for preapproved travelers deemed low risk.
“CBP is proactively preparing for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ to ensure a safe and efficient welcome for all visitors,” Executive Director Matthew S. Davies, Admissibility and Passenger Programs, Office of Field Operations, said in a press release. “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.”
A Clash of Immigration Policies
The surge in ESTA applications and approvals for member countries contrasts with the increased scrutiny and barriers that visitors from other nations have faced under the Trump administration.
Currently, 39 countries are subject to complete or partial travel bans, meaning no new visas are being issued. Non-immigrant visa applicants from other countries have also been required to pay visa bonds as a condition of approval, although the Trump administration did waive this requirement for those who could prove they were heading to the U.S. specifically for the World Cup.
Over the past 18 months, other policies, such as increased vetting of social media accounts during the application process and restrictions on electronic devices at the border, have drawn criticism from immigration advocacy groups and tourism industry leaders, who said visitor numbers would plummet. Some data from 2025 showed that this was the case.
DHS’s efforts to detain more alleged illegal immigrants have also led to warnings being issued to those thinking of vacationing in the U.S., including for the upcoming sporting event. Over 120 groups issued a travel warning akin to a State Department alert last month, something U.S. Travel Association President Geoff Freeman pushed back on at the time.
“We continue to oppose potential visa fees, social media screening, and policies that make the U.S. less competitive as a destination. We say that directly, including to the Administration itself,” Freeman told Newsweek in a statement. “But discouraging travel by calling the U.S. unsafe for visitors is a different thing entirely. 67 million international travelers came to the United States last year.”
Read more Spurs’ De’Aaron Fox Provides Positive Injury Update Before Game 1
