The administration of Donald Trump has temporarily waived the controversial U.S. visa bond requirement for certain foreign football fans planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.
Under the original policy, travelers from countries considered to have high visa overstay rates were required to pay a refundable bond of up to $15,000 when applying for a U.S. tourist visa. The rule was introduced as part of a broader immigration crackdown aimed at reducing illegal overstays and tightening visa controls.
However, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, U.S. officials announced that qualified fans from selected countries would no longer need to pay the expensive deposit if they registered through the special FIFA travel system before the deadline. The exemption mainly affects supporters from countries such as Algeria, Senegal, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, and Cape Verde, whose national teams qualified for the tournament.
The decision comes as the United States prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, with millions of international fans expected to travel for the event. Critics had argued that the visa bond policy could discourage supporters from attending and damage the country’s image ahead of one of the world’s largest sporting tournaments.
