U.S. Waives Visa Bonds for World Cup Players and Fans

The U.S. Department of State announced that it will waive the controversial visa bond requirement for World Cup players, staff, and ticketed fans from specific countries.

This decision was confirmed by Mora Namdar, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, on Wednesday. The visa bond rule, which requires applicants from 50 developing countries to pay a bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, will not apply to those who already hold match tickets and are registered under a priority visa scheme.

The five qualifying nations whose citizens will benefit from this waiver include Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia. However, citizens from Haiti and Iran will still face significant travel restrictions due to a near-total entry ban imposed by the U.S. government.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to begin on June 11 and will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.