Nigerian football fans planning to attend the FIFA World Cup in the United States next year may find the journey easier, following a new joint announcement by FIFA and the U.S. government introducing priority visa-appointment slots for match-ticket holders.

The initiative—known as the FIFA PASS—will allow fans who already possess World Cup tickets to fast-track their visa interview appointments at U.S. embassies and consulates. The system is designed to help supporters secure visas in time for the 2026 tournament, which will run from June 11 to July 19 across 11 cities in the United States, with additional matches in Mexico and Canada.

Although the programme is open to all nationalities, it could prove particularly significant for Nigerians, who have historically faced some of the longest visa-processing delays. Many supporters missed major competitions in recent years due to appointment backlogs and slow processing times.

Speaking at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump said the government was committed to ensuring that “soccer fans from all around the world are properly vetted and able to come to the U.S. next summer easily.” He noted that the administration had accelerated visa issuance globally, reducing typical wait times to 60 days or fewer.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that the State Department had deployed 400 additional consular officers—doubling staff capacity in some countries—to meet expected demand and speed up processing.

“The U.S. is offering prioritized appointments so fans can complete their visa interviews and show they qualify,” Rubio said.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who joined the announcement, estimated that between 5 million and 10 million fans could travel to the U.S. for the tournament. Already, more than one million tickets have been purchased by supporters from 212 countries, according to FIFA.

For Nigerian fans—who traditionally travel in large numbers for major tournaments—this move could ease one of their biggest concerns: the fear of securing match tickets only to be denied timely visa appointments.

FIFA said ticket buyers will receive detailed information on how to access the priority visa-appointment system in early 2026.

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Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Sékou Chelle, has stirred controversy after alleging that DR Congoused voodoo, locally known as juju, during Sunday night’s World Cup play-off penalty shootout that ended the Super Eagles’ qualification hopes.

The claim surfaced in a viral ESPN video, which captured a heated confrontation on the touchline between Chelle and members of the DR Congo bench during the dramatic shootout in Rabat.

Chelle, visibly upset in the footage, was seen struggling with a Congolese official whom he accused of attempting to influence the penalty shootout through mystical means.

Speaking after the match, the Super Eagles coach said:

“A guy from Congo did some voodoo. He was holding something in a plastic bottle. I don’t know if it was water or something else.”

Chelle explained that the official repeatedly waved the bottle each time a Nigerian player stepped up to take a penalty, which left him feeling uneasy.

“I saw him waving the content every time, and I was a little nervous after him,” he added.

The incident has further fueled tensions following Nigeria’s 4–3 penalty shootout defeat, which marked the second consecutive World Cup the Super Eagles will miss.

DR Congo officials have not publicly responded to the allegation, but the clip has intensified debate among fans and analysts, with many calling for CAF to review the footage and investigate the matter.

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Just like Nigeria, whose World Cup journey ended painfully in Rabat on Sunday night, four-time world champions Italy are once again standing on the edge of a disastrous back-to-back World Cup miss-out.

On Sunday in Bergamo, Italy fell 4–1 at home to resurgent Norway in their final World Cup qualifying match — a defeat that forced the Azzurri into the playoffs for the third successive edition, and revived painful memories of their failed attempts to reach the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

For Nigeria, whose own heartbreak came only hours earlier, the Italian collapse felt eerily familiar: dominance without efficiency, hopes raised and dashed, and another detour into the dangerous uncertainty of playoffs.

Norway, who had not reached the World Cup since 1998, sealed qualification in style with a perfect record of eight wins. The emphatic 4–1 victory over Italy ensured they finished six points clear at the top of the group.

Italy came into the match needing nothing short of a miracle — a nine-goal win to overturn Norway’s superior goal difference.

They started with urgency and even took an early lead in the 11th minute through Francesco Pio Esposito. The hosts dominated the first half and threatened repeatedly, while Norway looked subdued and only produced a half-chance from Antonio Nusa.

But the second half belonged entirely to the visitors. Nusa levelled in the 63rd minute before Erling Haaland, left unmarked in a moment of shocking defensive lapse, fired home in the 78th minute and struck again one minute later to take his tally to 16 goals in the campaign.
Jorgen Strand Larsen added a fourth in stoppage time, completing a memorable night for the Norwegians — and a brutal one for the Italians.

Hours after Nigeria’s penalty shootout exit to DR Congo, Italy’s own nightmare unfolded. Before kickoff, Italians already knew their fate: the playoffs were inevitable unless they produced a historic scoreline.

It was a scenario they had seen too many times.

• In 2018, they finished behind Spain and lost their playoff to Sweden.
• In 2022, they finished behind Switzerland and were stunned by North Macedonia in the playoffs.
• Now, in 2026, they must survive yet another playoff to avoid a humiliating third straight absence from world football’s biggest stage.

Coach Gennaro Gattuso admitted the 4–1 scoreline was “heavy” and painful for the fans.

“We’ll find a solution. We want to reach the semi-finals, push through to the final, and earn our place at the World Cup,” he told Rai Sport.
“The first half was very good, but the second half was nowhere near the standard we set.”

Italy’s wastefulness in front of goal — a problem that has plagued them across multiple cycles — resurfaced again, mirroring the finishing troubles that haunted Nigeria during the qualifiers.

While Italy and Nigeria grappled with disappointment, Norway erupted in celebration. After nearly three decades of dashed hopes, setbacks and near-misses, their return to the World Cup felt like a national rebirth.

Captain Martin Ødegaard, despite being injured, described the feeling as “unreal.”

“We have stood in so much rubbish, so many setbacks. To be here in this moment means everything,” he told Norwegian TV2.
“We always believed, and now we are getting the reward.”

Two Football Nations, One Shared Pain

For Nigeria and Italy — nations with strong football traditions and passionate supporters — Sunday delivered a bitter parallel. Both entered the night with high expectations, both fell short, and both now watch the World Cup picture take shape without the comfort of security.

For Italy, the playoffs offer one final lifeline. For Nigeria, the road has reached its end. Yet on a night when global qualifying drama unfolded, the heartbreaks of Abuja and Rome felt painfully alike.

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