The United States has announced plans to relax visa bond requirements for certain football fans travelling to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The decision was disclosed on Wednesday by the US State Department as part of efforts to facilitate travel ahead of the global football tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Under a migration policy introduced by President Donald Trump, visa applicants from about 50 developing countries have been required to pay refundable visa bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 before entering the United States.
However, the State Department said the bond requirement would now be waived for players, officials, and supporters from participating World Cup nations who already possess match tickets and are enrolled in a priority visa processing system.
Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Mora Namdar, said the US government remains committed to balancing national security with facilitating legitimate travel for the tournament.
“We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament,” Namdar stated.
She added that the Trump administration aims to organise “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 US government to ensure a successful tournament.
Several countries that have already qualified for the World Cup, including Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia, were among nations affected by the visa bond policy.
Meanwhile, Haiti and Iran — two countries that have also qualified for the tournament — reportedly continue to face severe US travel restrictions under the Trump administration.
The administration has additionally tightened visa screening procedures for many international visitors, including applicants from Western countries, by expanding requirements for social media scrutiny during the visa process.
According to a study by the Mendoza Law Firm, the high visa bond requirements could significantly limit attendance by fans from poorer nations, noting that $15,000 represents roughly three years’ average income in some affected countries.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 11 and will be the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams.
