When you fly to the US, your last gate before the country is US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It's the same line whether you have an ESTA or a visa. Most fans clear in 2-15 minutes; a few get pulled aside for a longer interview ("secondary inspection"). Knowing what to expect, what to bring, and what your rights are makes the whole thing routine.
The standard line
First Five Minutes
Hand the officer your passport. They'll scan it and pull your ESTA or visa from the system.
Photo + fingerprints. Stand in front of the camera; place 4 fingers, then thumb, on the reader. Glasses off briefly.
3-5 standard questions: What is the purpose of your visit? How long will you stay? Where are you staying? What do you do for work back home? Have you been to the US before? Answer briefly and specifically.
The stamp. If everything checks out, the officer stamps your passport (or marks the entry electronically — both are normal) and waves you through. You proceed to baggage claim.
For World Cup fans: when asked the purpose of your visit, the answer is "tourism — I'm here for the FIFA World Cup, my match is on [date] in [city]." Show the FIFA ticket on your phone if asked. Specific is better than "vacation."
What to have ready
The Pocket Pack
In your pocket / on your phone before you reach the line:
Passport (still valid 6+ months past your departure date is best practice — required for some countries).
FIFA match ticket(s) — open the FIFA app to the ticket so you can show it instantly.
Return flight confirmation — screenshot or email open. Officers often ask "when do you fly home?"
Hotel or Airbnb booking — full address. Officers may ask "where are you staying tonight?"
An address you're sure of for the customs declaration form (your hotel address is fine).
Cash declaration if applicable — if carrying more than US$10,000 in cash or equivalent, you must declare it (it's not illegal — failure to declare is the issue).
You don't need to print anything. Officers can pull up your ESTA or visa from the passport scan. Showing tickets and bookings on your phone is the norm.
Secondary inspection
If You Get Pulled Aside
A small percentage of arrivals are sent to a separate room for a longer interview — usually a 30-90 minute wait followed by 5-15 minutes of more detailed questions. Common reasons: random selection, prior US travel pattern questions, name match with someone in a database, or first-time travel from certain countries. Being sent to secondary is not a denial. Most people are admitted after the additional questions.
What to do in secondary:
Stay calm and polite. Officers can take their time; rushing them doesn't help.
Answer the questions asked, briefly. Don't volunteer extra information. Don't lie — even small inconsistencies can escalate.
If asked about your itinerary, have your match dates, hotels, and return flight ready. The FIFA app and your booking confirmations are your evidence.
You don't have a right to a lawyer at port of entry as a non-resident. US citizens and permanent residents do; visitors don't. The officer can ask anything they want; you can answer or decline (and risk denial of entry).
If you decide you don't want to answer further questions, you can ask to withdraw your application for entry. The officer may allow you to fly home on the next plane, with no formal denial on your record. (Outright denial of entry creates a record that affects future ESTAs/visas.)
Electronic devices
Phone & Laptop Searches
CBP has authority to search electronic devices at the port of entry. Two types:
Basic search: the officer takes your phone, scrolls through it, looks at apps, photos, messages. They cannot use forensic tools — only what's manually visible.
Advanced search: the device is plugged into a forensic tool. This requires reasonable suspicion (per CBP's own policy, though courts have given CBP wide latitude). Far rarer.
Practical tips:
Lock your phone before landing. Don't unlock it for the officer until they specifically ask.
You can decline to provide your passcode. But the officer can detain the device (you'll get it back later) or deny entry as a consequence. Most fans choose to comply for a routine search to avoid the hassle.
Sign out of social media accounts before flying. If asked to log in, you can decline; they cannot legally compel it for non-residents but can detain the device.
Cloud data isn't searchable — only what's locally stored on the device. CBP policy is to put devices in airplane mode before searching.
The reality: device searches at the port of entry happen to less than 0.01% of travellers (about 0.001%, per CBP's own published stats). For a typical World Cup fan with a clean travel history and clear purpose, this is not a likely scenario. But the policy exists, and being aware of it is part of arriving prepared.
After you clear customs
You're In
Once the officer waves you through, you have until your passport stamp says (typically up to 90 days for ESTA, longer for B1/B2) to be in the country. Pick up your bag at the carousel, exit through the green "nothing to declare" channel (or red if you're declaring), and you're done.
If you're in transit to a domestic flight, you'll re-check your bag with the airline at the same airport — most international gateways have a CBP-side baggage drop right after customs.
For the rest of your trip: enjoy the football. The hard part is over.