The administration of US President Donald Trump will waive controversial visa bond requirements for certain World Cup ticket holders travelling to the United States, officials said Wednesday, easing concerns ahead of one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
The decision applies to fans from countries subject to special visa bond rules aimed at discouraging travellers from overstaying their visas.
The US State Department said ticket-holding supporters who registered through a special expedited visa processing system known as FIFA PASS would no longer be required to pay bonds of up to US$15,000 to enter the country for the tournament.
The waiver will also apply to eligible team members and tournament staff, according to Mora Namdar, a senior official in the State Department’s consular affairs division.
“We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament,” Namdar said in a statement.
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The move comes as the United States prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico in June and July this year.
Last year, the Trump administration introduced visa bonds for visitors from countries identified as having high rates of visa overstays, arguing the measure was necessary to strengthen immigration controls.
The programme was later expanded and currently applies to 50 countries.
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Five of those countries qualified for the World Cup: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia.
Under the revised arrangement, supporters from affected nations who registered in the FIFA PASS system before the April 15 deadline will be exempt from the bond requirement.
The Associated Press first reported the decision.
The World Cup is expected to draw millions of visitors across North America, with the United States hosting the majority of matches.
However, the tournament has already been overshadowed by concerns over the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies and their potential effect on international visitors.
Rights groups and some football supporters have expressed fears about immigration enforcement during the competition.
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The administration’s aggressive crackdown on undocumented immigration has included high-profile raids and arrests in several US cities, as well as increased scrutiny of travellers entering the country.
Advocacy organisation Human Rights Watch urged world football governing body FIFA last month to seek guarantees from Washington that immigration enforcement operations would not take place at stadiums or fan venues during the tournament.
The group called for what it described as an “ICE Truce” during the competition, referring to the activities of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The Department of Homeland Security responded at the time by saying international visitors attending the tournament “have nothing to worry about” provided they held legal immigration status.
US officials launched the FIFA PASS system in January as part of broader efforts to streamline visa procedures for fans, players and tournament personnel ahead of the World Cup.
Analysts say the latest waiver reflects the administration’s attempt to balance its immigration agenda with the logistical and diplomatic demands of hosting a major global sporting event.
