Visa Waiver Program Countries — Full ESTA-Eligible List
Which countries can visit the USA without a visa? Complete list of 41 Visa Waiver Program countries eligible for ESTA for World Cup 2026.
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of 41 countries to visit the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without obtaining a traditional visa. Instead, VWP travelers apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) online for $21. For World Cup 2026, this means millions of football fans from eligible countries can enter the US quickly and affordably.
Complete VWP Country List
The following 41 countries are in the Visa Waiver Program as of 2026:
| # | Country | Region | World Cup Qualified? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andorra | Europe | No |
| 2 | Australia | Oceania | Yes |
| 3 | Austria | Europe | Possible |
| 4 | Belgium | Europe | Likely |
| 5 | Brunei | Asia | No |
| 6 | Chile | S. America | Possible |
| 7 | Croatia | Europe | Likely |
| 8 | Czech Republic | Europe | Possible |
| 9 | Denmark | Europe | Likely |
| 10 | Estonia | Europe | No |
| 11 | Finland | Europe | No |
| 12 | France | Europe | Yes |
| 13 | Germany | Europe | Yes |
| 14 | Greece | Europe | Possible |
| 15 | Hungary | Europe | Possible |
| 16 | Iceland | Europe | Possible |
| 17 | Ireland | Europe | Possible |
| 18 | Israel | Middle East | Possible |
| 19 | Italy | Europe | Likely |
| 20 | Japan | Asia | Yes |
| 21 | Latvia | Europe | No |
| 22 | Liechtenstein | Europe | No |
| 23 | Lithuania | Europe | No |
| 24 | Luxembourg | Europe | No |
| 25 | Monaco | Europe | No |
| 26 | Netherlands | Europe | Likely |
| 27 | New Zealand | Oceania | Yes |
| 28 | Norway | Europe | Possible |
| 29 | Poland | Europe | Possible |
| 30 | Portugal | Europe | Likely |
| 31 | San Marino | Europe | No |
| 32 | Singapore | Asia | No |
| 33 | Slovakia | Europe | Possible |
| 34 | Slovenia | Europe | Possible |
| 35 | South Korea | Asia | Yes |
| 36 | Spain | Europe | Yes |
| 37 | Sweden | Europe | Possible |
| 38 | Switzerland | Europe | Likely |
| 39 | Taiwan | Asia | No |
| 40 | United Kingdom | Europe | Yes |
Note: Israel was added to the VWP in 2023.
By Region
Europe (34 countries): The vast majority of VWP countries are European. This means fans from virtually every major European football nation can enter the US via ESTA.
Asia-Pacific (5 countries): Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. Notably, Japan, South Korea, and Australia are all qualified for the World Cup.
Americas (1 country): Only Chile is in the VWP from the Western Hemisphere. Argentine, Brazilian, Colombian, and Mexican fans must apply for B-visas.
Middle East (1 country): Israel.
Common Non-VWP Countries
Many football-passionate nations are NOT in the Visa Waiver Program, meaning their citizens need B1/B2 visas:
- Argentina — Major World Cup nation, defending champions
- Brazil — Five-time champions, large US diaspora
- Mexico — Co-hosts, large US diaspora (though many have US residency)
- Colombia — Large US diaspora community
- Nigeria — Africa’s most populous nation
- India — Growing football interest
- Turkey — Passionate football culture
- Morocco — 2022 semifinalists
- Saudi Arabia — 2022 group stage heroes
- South Africa — Qualified for 2026
Fans from these countries should begin the B-visa process 3-6 months before the tournament to ensure timely processing.
Special Cases
Dual citizens: If you hold a passport from a VWP country AND a non-VWP country, you can apply for ESTA using your VWP passport. You must travel on the passport associated with your ESTA.
Former travel to designated countries: If you have traveled to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, North Korea, Libya, Somalia, or Yemen since March 2011, you may be ineligible for ESTA even if you are a VWP citizen. You would need to apply for a B-visa instead.
UK citizens born in certain countries: Dual nationals of the UK and Iraq, Iran, Syria, or Sudan may face ESTA restrictions.
Green card holders: US permanent residents (green card holders) do not need ESTA or visas. They enter using their green card and passport.
VWP Requirements
To use the Visa Waiver Program, you must meet ALL of these requirements:
- Be a citizen of a VWP country (see list above)
- Have a valid ESTA (apply at esta.cbp.dhs.gov for $21)
- Have an e-passport (machine-readable passport with electronic chip)
- Stay no longer than 90 days
- Have a return or onward ticket (one-way tickets are not permitted under VWP)
- Not have been denied a US visa previously (in some cases)
- Not have an infectious disease, criminal conviction, or other inadmissibility factor
The Visa Waiver Program makes attending the 2026 World Cup straightforward for citizens of 41 nations. A $21 ESTA, a valid e-passport, and a return flight are all you need to experience the greatest football tournament in history on American soil.