The United States has announced plans to relax its visa bond requirements for certain football fans and participants travelling to the country for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The move comes amid growing criticism of a Trump administration policy requiring visa applicants from 50 developing nations to pay refundable bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 before entering the United States.
Under the revised arrangement announced on Wednesday, the United States Department of State said visa bond requirements would be waived for players and officials participating in World Cup matches hosted in the United States, as well as supporters from competing nations who already possess match tickets and are registered under a priority visa system.
“We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament,” said Mora Namdar.
Namdar added that the administration of President Donald Trump aimed to deliver the “biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history.”
FIFA welcomed the development, describing it as part of ongoing cooperation between football authorities and the U.S. government.
“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 FIFA spokesperson said.
Five countries that have qualified for the World Cup — Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia — are among those whose citizens are currently subject to the visa bond policy.
At least two other qualified nations, Haiti and Iran, have also faced severe U.S. travel restrictions under Trump-era immigration measures.
The administration has additionally intensified scrutiny of travellers from several allied Western countries, including requirements for applicants to provide access to their social media accounts for government review.
A report by the Mendoza Law Firm warned that Haiti could struggle to send supporters to the tournament because of the restrictions.
The report also noted that in the five qualifying countries affected by the visa bond policy, a $15,000 bond represents the equivalent of roughly three years’ average income.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to begin on June 11, will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
