The administration of Donald Trump has announced a major visa exemption for football supporters travelling to the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States.
Under the new policy, fans from 50 countries will no longer need to pay a $15,000 visa bond if they hold valid World Cup match tickets.
The World Cup will take place across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11.
Five affected countries have already qualified for the tournament. These countries include Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia.
“We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets,” Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar told the BBC.
The Trump administration introduced the visa bond policy last year as part of its wider immigration crackdown.
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The 12-month pilot programme required some travellers to deposit up to $15,000 to discourage visa overstays.
According to the US State Department, officials targeted countries where “screening and vetting information is considered deficient.”
Authorities planned to refund the bond after visitors returned home at the end of their stay.
Until now, only players and coaches travelling for the tournament qualified for the exemption. However, officials expanded the waiver this week to include ordinary fans with confirmed World Cup tickets.
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In a statement, FIFA welcomed the decision and praised cooperation with the White House.
The organization said the move showed continued collaboration “to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event.”
“We are grateful to the Administration for the ongoing partnership,” FIFA added.
Analysts say the decision highlights the economic importance of international tourism ahead of the largest World Cup in FIFA history.
Travel Restrictions Still Raise Concerns
Despite the exemption, several immigration restrictions remain in place ahead of the tournament.
Travellers from Iran and Haiti still face broader travel bans.
However, players and coaches from those countries can still enter for official tournament participation.
Meanwhile, visitors from Ivory Coast and Senegal continue facing partial restrictions under an expanded travel policy.
Last year, the US government also introduced plans requiring travellers from dozens of countries to provide five years of social media history before entry approval.
Rights groups warned that stricter screening measures could increase denied entries, surveillance and racial profiling risks.
The World Cup is expected to attract millions of international supporters to North America.
As a result, immigration procedures and border policies will remain under global scrutiny before the tournament begins.