FIFA World Cup 2026: Visa Bond Fee of $15,000 Waived for Ticket-Holding Spectators from 50 Countries
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The Trump administration has decided to waive the $15,000 visa bond requirement for citizens of 50 countries holding valid tickets to attend FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in the United States.
The 50 countries include qualified teams such as Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia. The World Cup, jointly hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, is scheduled to begin on June 11, 2026.
“We are waiving the ‘visa bond’ requirement for eligible fans who have purchased World Cup tickets,” said Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Mora Namdar, in a statement.
Last year, the US introduced a new regulation requiring visitors applying for a visa to deposit a bond as a measure to reduce and control visa overstays.
Players and coaches participating in the World Cup had already been exempted from the bond requirement, but fans with valid tickets were not offered this benefit until this Wednesday.
Efforts to Control Immigration
Under its immigration control plan, the Trump administration implemented the bond deposit requirement for visa applicants in August of last year as a pilot program.
According to the US Department of State, the bond is required if sufficient information to ensure visa compliance is not available during the visa granting process.
The deposit is refunded once the travel is completed.
Nepal is also listed among the countries required to pay a bond for a US visa application, so Nepali football fans will benefit from this new decision.
FIFA Welcomes the Decision
FIFA issued a statement welcoming the waiver of the visa bond, acknowledging the collaboration with the US government to make the World Cup a “successful and unforgettable global event.”
“We are grateful to the US administration for this partnership,” said the FIFA release.
According to Namdar, fans from countries not eligible for visa exemption must register their names on the ‘FIFA Pass’ before April 15, which also helps secure interview scheduling for visas.
“We are strengthening national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel,” she added.
Fans from Iran and Haiti Excluded from This Facility
Although fans from 50 countries are eligible, individuals traveling from Iran and Haiti will not be permitted entry into the United States. However, players and coaches related to the World Cup from these countries are allowed to travel to the US.
Additionally, travelers from Ivory Coast and Senegal face some restrictions on their journeys.
At the end of last year, the US government announced it would review social media activity from the last five years for tourists from certain countries.
This policy could impact many individuals wishing to visit the US for the World Cup.
Human rights organizations have warned that such policies may expose travelers to difficulties, detentions, additional restrictions, social media scrutiny, racial discrimination, and increased surveillance risks.
