The Trump administration has suspended a requirement that would have compelled visitors from five World Cup-qualified countries to pay a bond of up to $15,000 to enter the United States for the tournament. The US state department imposed the bond requirement last year for nations deemed to have high rates of visa overstays and other security concerns, as part of a broader immigration crackdown. Travelers from 50 countries are required to pay such bonds, and five of those have qualified for the World Cup: Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Tunisia.
However, fans from these countries have been granted a temporary reprieve if they hold a valid World Cup ticket. Mora Namdar, the assistant secretary of state for consular affairs, announced the waiver on Wednesday, stating, “The United States is excited to organize the biggest and best Fifa World Cup in history. We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets” and opted into the Fifa Pass system, which facilitates expedited visa appointments.
This waiver marks a rare relaxation of immigration requirements under the current administration and will ease travel burdens for some visitors to the World Cup, which begins on 11 June and is co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. Previously, only World Cup team players, coaches, and certain staff were exempt from the bond requirement as part of the administration’s orders to prioritize visa processing for the tournament. Ordinary fans, even with confirmed tickets, were not exempt until now.
The administration has taken dramatic steps to restrict immigration, drawing criticism from those who argue such measures conflict with the unifying spirit of the World Cup. For instance, travelers from Iran and Haiti are barred, though players, coaches, and support personnel are exempt. Travelers from Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal face partial restrictions under an expanded travel ban. Additionally, foreign travelers must now submit their social media histories, and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been deployed at airports during periods when Transportation Security Administration personnel were unpaid. These measures prompted Amnesty International and human rights groups to issue a “World Cup travel advisory” warning about the climate in the US.
A report from the American Hotel + Lodging Association cited visa barriers and other geopolitical issues for “significantly suppressing international demand,” leading to hotel bookings for the tournament far below initial expectations. The association noted concerns about lengthy visa wait times, increased fees, and uncertainty about entry processing. The bond requirements are part of a broader effort to clamp down on migrants who overstay temporary visas. Visa applicants from affected countries must pay bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, refundable if they comply with visa terms or if the application is denied.
As of early April, the number of World Cup fans affected by the bond requirement was relatively small—about 250 people, according to US officials. However, that number is changing rapidly as more tickets are purchased and some ticket holders decide against traveling. Fifa had requested the waiver, which was discussed at multiple meetings in Washington over several months.
