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| President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Washington in December. |
Trump administration eases entry rules for ticket holders attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.
The United States has announced that foreign visitors from certain World Cup qualifying nations will no longer need to pay costly visa bonds to enter the country for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The policy change by the administration of Donald Trump applies to eligible fans from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia who purchased official FIFA World Cup tickets.
Under previous rules, travelers from dozens of countries considered high-risk for visa overstays could be required to pay bonds of up to $15,000 before entering the U.S.
The U.S. State Department said fans who bought tickets through FIFA and enrolled in the FIFA Pass system for expedited visa appointments would now be exempt from the bond requirement.
Officials said the move is aimed at helping the U.S. host “the biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history.” The tournament begins on June 11 and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The decision marks a rare relaxation of immigration restrictions under the current administration, which has otherwise tightened visa and travel rules in recent years.