Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
Dear media representatives, if you would like to receive information about the media activities of the Croatian national teams by email, register at [email protected] so that we can add you to the HNS mailing list.
ACCREDITATIONS FOR FIFA WORLD CUP 2026
Information on the media accreditation process for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the USA, and which FIFA will conduct in cooperation with the national associations.
The accreditation process via the FIFA Media Hub will open on Monday, January 26, and will remain open until March 31 of this year.
These instructions apply to representatives of the written press (print, online, news agencies) and photographers from Croatian media. FIFA will handle the accreditations for the following international agencies: AFP, EFE, AP, dpa, EPA, Getty Images, Jiji Press, Kyodo News, PA, Reuters, and Xinhua. All non-rights-holding TV and radio media (television, radio, social media – anyone recording video or audio content) should NOT apply through this process. The number of accreditations for such non-right-holders will be strictly limited, and match access will be defined by FIFA at a later stage. For additional questions on this matter, please contact: [email protected]
To apply for accreditation, you will need the following:
1. Access to the FIFA Media Hub, approved by FIFA
2. A Control Key, approved by the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) via FIFA’s system
FIFA MEDIA HUB
If you do not yet have access to the FIFA Media Hub, please apply for registration at:
https://media.fifa.com/registration
After submitting your application, FIFA will require some time to approve it, so we recommend completing this registration in advance. Please note that successful registration for the FIFA Media Hub does NOT constitute an application for World Cup accreditation.
CONTROL KEY
To obtain a Control Key, please apply for accreditation no later than February 10 by sending an email to:
[email protected]
In your email, please include the first name, last name, email address, and role of all members of your editorial team you wish to register.
Between February 10 and February 20, the HNS Communications Department will determine the list of approved media representatives and send them their Control Keys via FIFA’s system. If the number of applications exceeds FIFA’s quota for Croatian media, the final list will be determined in consultation with the Croatian Sports Journalists’ Association (HZSN).
ACCREDITATION APPLICATION
Once you receive your Control Key, you will be able to apply for World Cup accreditation through your user account on the FIFA Media Hub until March 31 of this year.
After this date, FIFA will send confirmations of approved accreditations along with additional information.
The FIFA Media Hub will also open the option to apply for individual group-stage matches shortly after the accreditation process begins. Media representatives who submit an accreditation application will also be able to apply for individual matches (i.e., before the main accreditation is confirmed).
VISAS AND ENTRY INTO HOST COUNTRIES
FIFA is not directly involved in the visa application process, but it will send all accredited media representatives detailed information about the visa regimes in the host countries. In addition, HNS will hold meetings with the U.S. and Canadian embassies in Croatia, and by the end of January we will inform you in detail about entry procedures and working regulations for media representatives in Canada and the USA.
KEY DEADLINES
By February 10: Applications to HNS for a Control Key
February 10–20: HNS sends Control Keys
By March 31: Accreditation applications (and individual match applications) via the FIFA Media Hub
