By Blessing Nweke
The Trump administration has announced that football fans from 50 countries subject to a $15,000 (£11,000) US visa bond requirement will be exempt if they are travelling to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup with valid match tickets.
The decision, confirmed Wednesday by Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar, comes as preparations continue for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June.
“We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets,” Namdar said in a statement.
Five of the affected countries — Algeria, Cabo Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia — have already qualified for the tournament.
The visa bond programme, introduced last year as part of the administration’s broader immigration crackdown, was designed to reduce visa overstays and address concerns over insufficient screening and vetting information. Under the scheme, travellers from certain countries could be required to pay a refundable bond before entering the US.
Players and coaches had already been exempt from the policy, but ordinary supporters with confirmed World Cup tickets were only added to the exemption list this week.
In a statement, FIFA welcomed the move, calling it evidence of strong cooperation with the White House to deliver a “successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event.”
However, travellers from Iran and Haiti remain barred under separate travel restrictions, although teams and officials from those nations are still permitted entry for tournament-related activities.
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