Five countries—Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia—that are subject to the visa bond policy have qualified for the World Cup. Ticketholders from those countries are now exempt from the visa bonds, according to an update to the State Department’s website on Wednesday.
“As part of President Trump’s commitment to hosting the biggest, best, and safest sporting event in World Cup history, the Administration will waive the visa bond requirement for certain individuals traveling to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” the State Department said.
The visa bond will be waived for citizens of competing countries who have purchased FIFA World Cup tickets and opted into the fast-track visa processing system, FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (PASS), by April 15.
Visitors to the U.S. for the World Cup, the State Department said, will still be subject to regular visa screening and vetting, which has become more stringent during Trump’s second term. The U.S. expects up to 10 million visitors for the soccer tournament, which takes place from June 11 to July 19 in 11 cities across the U.S., as well as in Mexico and Canada.