US relaxes visa bond requirement for World Cup fans

Washington: The Trump administration will not require World Cup ticket holders from countries with high visa overstay rates to pay costly visa bonds to enter the United States, a State Department official said on Wednesday.

The policy, introduced last year, required visitors from certain countries to deposit up to $15,000 to obtain tourist visas, aimed at reducing visa overstays. The requirement currently applies to 50 countries and was expanded earlier this year.

Among those, five countries—Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia—have qualified for the FIFA World Cup.

Mora Namdar, a senior official in the State Department’s consular affairs division, said the bond requirement will be waived for fans who hold World Cup tickets and have registered through a special expedited visa system. Team members and staff will also be eligible for the waiver.

“We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament,” she said in a statement.

The Associated Press first reported the development.

The 2026 World Cup will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico in June and July.

However, concerns have been raised over the US immigration crackdown and the possible presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations during the event.

Human Rights Watch recently urged FIFA to push the US government for an “ICE truce” during the tournament, including guarantees that immigration enforcement would not target fans at stadiums.

The Department of Homeland Security previously said international visitors attending the games would not face issues if they have legal status.

The US also introduced a system in January to speed up visa processing for World Cup ticket holders. To qualify for the bond waiver, fans from affected countries must have registered in the FIFA PASS system by April 15.