Travelling to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States may have just become a lot easier – and cheaper – for a number of football fans.
The Trump administration has confirmed it will waive controversial visa bond fees of up to $15,000 (€12,800) for eligible supporters travelling to the tournament, easing one of the biggest concerns facing international fans planning trips to this summer’s tournament.
The move applies to supporters from several qualifying nations who have purchased official FIFA tickets, after months of concern that strict entry rules, rising costs and lengthy visa processes could put travellers off attending the competition.
The US State Department initially imposed the bond requirement last year for countries which it said had high rates of people overstaying their visas, as well as being linked to other security issues.
At the time, it announced that travellers to the US from some 50 countries were required to pay the bond. However, five of those nations have now qualified for the event – Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia.
