Under the new arrangement, citizens of Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia who secure official FIFA World Cup tickets and register through the FIFA Pass system will no longer be asked to pay visa bonds that previously ranged from $5,000 to $15,000.
The decision marks a significant concession by U.S. authorities as preparations intensify for what is expected to become the largest FIFA World Cup ever staged.
“The United States is excited to organize the biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history,” Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said. “We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets.”
The visa bond policy was introduced last year as part of broader immigration control measures targeting travelers from about 50 countries identified by U.S. officials as having high visa overstay rates or security-related concerns. Under the system, applicants were required to deposit thousands of dollars as a guarantee that they would leave the country before their visas expired. The funds would only be refunded after compliance with U.S. immigration rules was confirmed.
While American officials maintained that only a relatively small number of World Cup supporters would have been directly affected by the policy, the requirement sparked criticism among football stakeholders and immigration advocates, who argued it could discourage fans from attending the global tournament.
FIFA is understood to have pushed strongly for exemptions, warning that financial barriers could affect participation and undermine the inclusive spirit traditionally associated with the World Cup. After months of negotiations involving the U.S. State Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the White House, the exemption request was eventually approved.
The waiver is expected to make travel arrangements considerably easier for supporters from the affected countries, many of whom had expressed concern about the high financial burden attached to the visa process.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to kick off on June 11 and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico — the first time three countries will co-host the competition. The expanded tournament will also feature 48 national teams, making it the biggest edition in FIFA history.