The US administration officially announced the cancellation of the controversial "entry visa bond" requirement, valued at $15,000, for football fans coming from 50 countries to attend the 2026 World Cup matches, provided they hold valid match tickets. This comes just a few weeks before the global tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, kicks off on June 11 next year.
This decision represents a major breakthrough and an exceptional facilitation for thousands of fans who planned to travel to America, removing a huge financial burden that threatened the dreams of many to support their national teams. This news report highlights the countries benefiting from the decision, the new mechanisms adopted to expedite visa issuance, and the remaining security measures.
This waiver comes as confirmed by Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Mora Namdar, turning a new page on the strict system imposed by Washington last year to limit overstaying of legal visa periods. This system required travelers from "high-risk" countries to pay refundable amounts up to $15,000 before entering US territory. With this new update, regular fans have joined the list of previously exempted individuals, which was limited only to players, coaches, and technical staff members.
Among the most prominent on-the-ground indicators of this decision is the benefit to fans from six countries that have officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup finals and were previously listed under the financial bond policy, namely:
- Algeria
- Tunisia
- Morocco
- Senegal
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Cape Verde
Despite these financial facilitations, US officials clarified that some security restrictions and conditions remain in place; travel bans imposed on citizens of Iran and Haiti continue under current laws, with only players and coaches from these two countries exempted to participate in official tournament activities. Meanwhile, countries such as Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal face additional partial restrictions within broader US travel measures.
In a related context, some travelers may face additional scrutiny procedures, including a review of social media account records for the past five years, a measure proposed by the US government last year that raised warnings from human rights organizations regarding its potential to cause travel delays. To mitigate these consequences, the International Football Federation (FIFA) launched the "FIFA PASS" system, which allows fans who purchased their tickets directly from FIFA to apply for priority appointments for consular interviews and expedited US visa issuance.
FIFA welcomed the US decision supporting the fans, considering it an embodiment of continuous and fruitful cooperation with the White House to ensure the success of this historic event. With millions of visitors expected to flow into North America during the World Cup period, this waiver directly contributes to dispelling financial concerns associated with the visa. Organizing bodies urge fans to track updates through official US consular portals and the FIFA platform to ensure all conditions are met before travel.
Official News Source: The Guardian – US suspends World Cup visa bonds for travelers