U.S. Waives Visa Bonds for African World Cup Fans

The U.S. State Department announced on Tuesday that it will waive visa bond requirements for fans from five African nations—Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia—who purchase valid tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This waiver, effective April 15, allows citizens from these countries to opt for the FIFA pass system to expedite their visa appointments. Previously, the U.S. had imposed visa bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 on visitors from 50 countries with high visa overstay rates as part of a broader immigration enforcement strategy.

The waiver is part of efforts to facilitate travel for the tournament, which begins on June 11 and is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Additionally, World Cup players, coaches, and certain staff members are already exempt from these bond requirements.

Despite this relief, the administration maintains strict measures for overall travel, particularly for countries like Iran and Haiti, which face entry bars.