World Cup supporters from five African nations have received partial relief after the United States confirmed it will waive a visa deposit requirement for eligible ticket holders travelling to the 2026 FIFA World Cup though strict conditions still apply.
The move affects fans from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia, all of which have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and were previously among 50 countries included in a US visa bond policy requiring deposits of between $5,000 and $15,000 for entry into the United States.
The exemption applies only to supporters who have already purchased match tickets and registered through FIFA’s dedicated visa facilitation system.
According to the BBC, US assistant secretary of state for consular affairs Mora Namdar said: “We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets.”
However, she noted that the exemption comes with strict conditions.
