The Trump administration has suspended the $15,000 visa bond requirement for foreign visitors from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia who hold confirmed FIFA World Cup tickets. The State Department announced the change on May 13, 2026, citing the need to ease travel for fans amid the tournament’s opening on June 11.

The bond policy, introduced last year to curb overstays from high‑risk countries, had applied to travelers from 50 nations. Those five World Cup‑eligible countries will now be exempt, while players, coaches and staff had already enjoyed exemption under earlier orders that prioritized visa processing for the event.

The decision comes amid broader immigration restrictions that critics say clash with the World Cup’s unifying spirit. Measures such as travel bans on Iran and Haiti, and a broadened ban on Ivory Coast and Senegal, have sparked warnings from Amnesty International and other civil‑rights groups. The American Hotel & Lodging Association warned that visa barriers could suppress international demand for accommodation.

The waiver is a rare relaxation under the Trump administration, potentially reducing the burden on a small number—estimated at about 250—of fans who would otherwise face significant delays and fees.