The U.S. State Department said Wednesday that it was lifting a requirement for visa applicants from 50 countries to pay a bond in order to get approved, if they are entering the country for the FIFA World Cup.
The Trump administration had been criticized for introducing the bonds, sometimes costing up to $15,000, with a warning that they could keep tourists from visiting the U.S. Among the 50 nations affected, five have qualified for the men’s soccer competition that starts June 11.
Visa applicants will have to show valid tickets for the World Cup if they are to qualify for the exemption. Players, coaches and some staff were already exempt from the fees, which are meant to be returned if a visitor leaves by the time their visa expires.
“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 told Newsweek in a statement.
Visa Bond Waiver: What To Know
The State Department said the bond would be waived for “certain individuals” from impacted countries seeking to visit the U.S. during the FIFA World Cup, which will see matches played in cities across the country, as well as in Canada and Mexico.
“As part of the effort, the Department of State has waived the visa bond requirement for qualifying team members including players, coaches, and support staff who otherwise meet all requirements for entry into the U.S.,” Namdar said.
“Additionally, we are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets and opted in to FIFA PASS as of April 15, 2026. We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament.”
The five countries that may benefit from the waiver, as they are participants in the event, are Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia.
The Associated Press reported that FIFA requested the waiver, leading to multiple discussions in meetings at the White House and elsewhere in the government for several months.
While the bond may be waived for these individuals, they would still be subjected to rigorous vetting, which the Trump administration has emphasized over the past year.
Rare Loosening of Immigration Rules
The State Department shift marks a notable change by the administration to ease restrictions around immigration, after limiting legal immigration routes, temporary and more permanent, since January 2025, the beginning of Trump’s second term.
Applicants seeking new visas at U.S. consulates have faced stricter vetting, longer wait times, and even outright bans on entry. The federal government has insisted that the moves are necessary for national security, despite opposition from Democrats and advocates who have said blanket policies leave law-abiding people without access to jobs and loved ones in the U.S.
As immigration enforcement increased in 2025, concerns were raised about the World Cup and whether visitors would still wish to travel amid plans for greater scrutiny of social media posts and the potential for immigration agents to be stationed at stadiums.
In April, a group of 120 organizations, including Amnesty International, issued a travel warning for the U.S., telling prospective World Cup visitors to exercise caution when making plans to head to the event.
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