The United States Embassy in Accra has announced it is opening thousands of additional non-immigrant visa appointment slots to accommodate a surge in travel demand ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The move is aimed at ensuring Ghanaians, especially football fans and travellers with business related to the tournament, can smoothly apply to visit the host countries.
"We're really excited about hosting this tournament," said Matthew Asada, press attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Accra, in a radio interview. He explained that with Ghana's qualification for the tournament and their confirmed group stage matches in Toronto, Boston, and Philadelphia, the embassy acted to meet the expected demand.
"We’ve opened thousands of additional non-immigrant visa appointment slots here at Embassy Accra, with availability starting as early as this week."
The expanded appointments are part of a global effort by the U.S. Department of State, which has deployed about 450 additional consular officers worldwide to handle increased applications for the upcoming event. Asada clarified that the newly available slots apply to all standard non-immigrant visas, such as tourism (B2) or business (B1) visas, not just for those attending the World Cup.
He urged all applicants to come to their interviews well-prepared. "It’s important that the person applying has the materials to explain to the officer what they’re doing and their intended purpose of travel," he said.
This includes having documents ready to support their stated reason for visiting, whether for a match, a concert, or a business meeting.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the largest edition of the tournament ever held. Ghana's national team, the Black Stars, will open their campaign against Panama on June 17, 2026.
Travellers are encouraged to check the official U.S. visa appointment website for the latest availability and to schedule their interviews.
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