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Travelling to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States may have just become a lot easier – and cheaper – for a number of football fans.
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The Trump administration has confirmed it will waive controversial visa bond fees of up to $15,000 (€12,800) for eligible supporters travelling to the tournament, easing one of the biggest concerns facing international fans planning trips to this summer’s tournament.
The move applies to supporters from several qualifying nations who have purchased official FIFA tickets, after months of concern that strict entry rules, rising costs and lengthy visa processes could put travellers off attending the competition.
The US State Department initially imposed the bond requirement last year for countries which it said had high rates of people overstaying their visas, as well as being linked to other security issues.
At the time, it announced that travellers to the US from some 50 countries were required to pay the bond. However, five of those nations have now qualified for the event – Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia.
Now, the US government says that citizens from those five countries who have purchased legitimate tickets from FIFA are now exempt from the visa bond requirement. World Cup players, coaches and some staff were already exempt.
Those who no longer have to pay the bond will be able to use the FIFA pass system, an initiative launched last November, which allows expedited visa appointments.
This will likely be welcomed by at least some visitors watching matches in the US as part of the World Cup.
Travelling to the US isn’t easy for many
The tournament begins on 11 June and will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
Critics have suggested the US government, in particular, has taken dramatic steps to restrict immigration, something that is incongruous with the unifying message a global sporting event such as the World Cup is supposed to project.
Travellers from Iran and Haiti are banned from visiting the US, despite the fact that their teams have qualified.
Football fans from the Ivory Coast and Senegal will be able to visit, due to the visa bond decision, but they’ll likely still face partial restrictions under Trump’s ongoing travel ban.
That policy has led to Amnesty International, alongside numerous US-based civil and human rights groups, to issue a so-called “World Cup travel advisory” which warns travellers about the political climate in the US.
It’s also led the tourism industry to speak out.
Tourism in the US has been hit by the policies
The American Hotel and Lodging Association, the country’s main advocacy group for hotels, blamed visa barriers and other geopolitical issues for “significantly suppressing international demand”, leading to hotel bookings for the football tournament that are far below what was initially anticipated.
The body said travellers are concerned about potentially lengthy visa wait times and increased fees, along with uncertainty about how they’re being processed to enter the US.
It’s not just the World Cup that’s affecting tourism either. According to Fortune, international travel rose by 80 million people in 2025, but visitor numbers to the US fell by 5.5%, making North America the region with the least international growth.
Last month, it was thought that the number of World Cup fans who’d be affected by the visa bonds was as few as 250 people, but that figure is growing as more tickets are sold.
FIFA had expressed doubt about the bond and, this week, thanked the Trump administration for the change.
In a statement, it said the announcement shows “our ongoing collaboration with the US government and the White House task force for the FIFA World Cup to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event”.
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