United States of America has announced that it will waive visa bond requirements for eligible fans attending the FIFA World Cup 2026. The decision came after concerns grew over the high cost of travelling to the tournament.

Bond policy had raised concerns among fans

Earlier, the administration of Donald Trump had introduced a policy requiring visitors from certain countries to pay visa bonds ranging between $5,000 and $15,000. The government launched the programme in August last year.

Under the rule, citizens from 50 countries needed to deposit the bond amount to receive temporary US visas. Authorities returned the money after travellers left the country.

However, many football fans feared the policy would make attending the World Cup far more expensive.

US announces exemption for eligible supporters

In a statement to Al Jazeera, US Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar confirmed the exemption. The official said the administration is “waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets and opted in to FIFA PASS as of April 15, 2026”.

She also referred to a previously announced programme designed to fast-track visa processing for World Cup visitors.

Team members also exempt from bond rule

Earlier, the US government had already removed visa bond requirements for official World Cup participants. These included players, coaches, and support staff connected to national teams.

Namdar said the waiver applied to “qualifying team members, including players, coaches, and support staff who otherwise meet all requirements for entry into the US”.

US says security checks will continue

Despite the exemption, the US government said all visitors will still go through regular visa screening procedures. “We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament,” Namdar said.

The State Department also clarified that ticket holders must still complete normal visa vetting before entering the country.

Several World Cup nations affected by policy

At least five countries participating in the World Cup currently fall under the visa bond programme. These countries include Algeria, Cabo Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia.

The waiver is expected to ease travel concerns for supporters from these nations.

Millions expected for 2026 tournament

The US State Department expects up to 10 million visitors during the tournament. Matches will begin on June 11 across cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to become one of the biggest sporting events in history because of its expanded format and multi-country hosting arrangement.