The United States will waive World Cup visa bonds for eligible FIFA World Cup fans from affected countries, a State Department official said Wednesday.
Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said the waiver applies to fans who bought tickets and joined FIFA PASS by April 15.
The visa bond scheme required some tourists from 50 countries to pay USD 5,000 to USD 15,000 before entering the United States.
Five affected countries have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia.
Namdar said the United States wants to support legitimate travel while maintaining national security checks. The waiver also covers eligible players, coaches and team staff from affected countries.
Read: Mexico Visa Rules for Pakistani Fans for FIFA World Cup 2026
The FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The first US match will take place on June 12 in Inglewood, California. FIFA scheduled the final for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
