The United States has temporarily waived visa bond requirements for some World Cup ticket-holders from selected countries, easing a major travel hurdle ahead of this summer’s tournament.

The Trump Administration announced Wednesday that qualified fans who had already purchased World Cup tickets and opted into FIFA PASS by April 15, 2026, will not be required to pay the controversial visa bond before travelling to the United States.

The policy affects citizens from 50 countries who have been subject to a nine-month-old State Department rule requiring visitors to deposit $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 before entering the U.S. The bond is refundable once the visitor leaves the country.

Among the countries affected by the original requirement are several nations that have qualified for the World Cup, including Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia.

Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar confirmed the temporary exemption in statements to several media outlets, saying the waiver would apply to “qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets and opted in to FIFA PASS as of April 15, 2026.”

The latest move follows an earlier waiver granted to players, coaches and team officials from the same countries, ensuring that participating teams would not be affected by the bond requirement during the tournament.

However, the exemption does not remove all travel restrictions facing World Cup fans.

Citizens from several qualifying countries, including Haiti, Iran, Ivory Coast and Senegal, remain affected by a separate Trump Administration directive that bars some nationals from entering the United States under any circumstances.

The decision comes as the U.S. prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada. The tournament kicks off on June 11 in Mexico, with the first U.S.-based match scheduled for June 12 in Inglewood, California.

The final will be staged on July 19 at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

For thousands of fans, the waiver could make the difference between watching the tournament from home and travelling to the U.S. for football’s biggest event.

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