The United States has announced it will waive a proposed $15,000 (£11,000) visa deposit for football fans from 50 countries travelling to the 2026 World Cup, provided they hold valid match tickets.

The US state department has said that fans from the qualified countries will not have to pay the bond if they have a World Cup ticket

The waiver is a rare loosening of immigration requirements under the administration and will ease travel burdens for at least some visitors ahead of the tournament.