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Casablanca — The Trump administration said it will exempt football fans from 50 countries from the $15,000 visa deposit requirement if they are traveling to the US for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with valid match tickets.
The tournament will be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico from 11 June to July 19.
Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar confirmed the decision in a statement to the BBC. “We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets,” she said.
Five of the countries included in the exemption have already qualified for the tournament. They are Algeria, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Tunisia.
The US introduced the visa bond policy last year as part of a 12-month pilot program tied to the administration’s immigration crackdown. According to a notice published by the US State Department at the time, the measure was meant to reduce visa overstays and address cases where “screening and vetting information is considered deficient.”
Under the program, visitors from designated countries could be required to pay a refundable bond before entering the US. The money would be returned after the traveller left the country within the terms of their visa.
Players and coaches travelling for the World Cup were already exempt from the requirement. Until this week, regular supporters attending matches were not included.
FIFA welcomed the announcement and said it reflected continued cooperation with the White House ahead of the tournament.
In a statement, the football body said the decision showed ongoing collaboration “to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event.”
“We are grateful to the Administration for the ongoing partnership,” FIFA added.
The exemption does not apply to all countries affected by US travel restrictions. Travellers from Iran and Haiti are still barred from entering the US, although players and coaches from those countries remain exempt when travelling for the World Cup.
Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal, despite qualifying for the tournament, are facing partial restrictions under an expanded version of the travel ban.
The administration also announced late last year that tourists from dozens of countries could be required to provide five years of social media history as part of the visa process.
Rights groups have warned that tougher entry policies could expose travellers to denied visas, racial profiling, social media screening, expanded surveillance, and possible arrest risks during the World Cup period.
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