The United States will ease controversial visa bond rules for certain supporters and team members travelling to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Under a migration crackdown driven by Donald Trump, applicants from 50 developing countries have been asked to pay refundable bonds ranging from 5,000 dollars to 15,000 dollars when applying for US visas.
The United States Department of State said the requirement will be waived for players, staff and fans from competing nations who already hold match tickets and registered through a priority visa scheme.
“We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament,” said Mora Namdar, assistant secretary of state for consular affairs.
She said the administration wants to stage the “biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history.”
World football’s governing body, FIFA, welcomed the move. “Today’s announcement from the US State Department further demonstrates our ongoing collaboration with the US Government and the White House Task Force for the FIFA World Cup to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event,” a spokesperson said as quoted by Punch.
Five qualified nations whose citizens still face visa bonds include Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia.
Meanwhile, supporters from Haiti and Iran face near-total entry bans following new US restrictions, including measures tied to tensions with Israel.
The administration has also widened checks on visitors from Western nations, requiring access to social media accounts during the visa process.
Research by the Mendoza Law Firm warned Haiti could see almost no travelling supporters due to the curbs.
The firm added that in the five affected African nations, a 15,000 dollar bond equals roughly three years of average income.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 begins on 11 June and will be co-hosted by Canada and Mexico alongside the United States.
