The United States government has confirmed it will waive the up to $15,000 visa bond requirement for FIFA World Cup ticket holders from 50 nations. This decision, announced by the Trump administration this week, applies to fans from countries previously identified for high rates of visa overstays, provided they registered through the official FIFA PASS system.
These bonds, initially introduced last year and expanded in 2025, were designed to deter visitors from overstaying their visas. Five of the 50 flagged countries have teams qualified for the upcoming 2026 World Cup: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia.
Streamlined Entry for World Cup Fans
Mora Namdar, a senior official in the State Department's consular affairs division, confirmed the waiver specifically targets fans who utilized the FIFA PASS system. This system, launched in January, was created to expedite visa processing for individuals holding tickets to the tournament. The deadline for registration to qualify for this waiver was April 15. Team members and staff from qualifying nations are also eligible for the exemption.
Namdar stated, "We remain committed to strengthening U.S. national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament."
Immigration Concerns Amidst Tournament Preparations
The waiver comes against a backdrop of ongoing concerns regarding US immigration policies. President Trump's robust approach to immigration enforcement has cast a shadow over preparations for the World Cup, prompting worries about the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers at venues. Human Rights Watch had previously urged FIFA to press the US government for an "ICE Truce" during the tournament, seeking a public guarantee against immigration enforcement operations at game sites.
In response, the Department of Homeland Security maintained that international visitors with legal immigration status traveling for the games "have nothing to worry about."
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled for June and July, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The full list of flagged nations benefiting from the waiver includes:
- Algeria
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Botswana
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Cambodia
- Central African Republic
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Georgia
- Grenada
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mongolia
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- Papua New Guinea
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe