Trending Now - US Waives Visa Bond Fees for World Cup Ticket Holders
WHO:
Fox News - The Trump administration, the State Department, qualified World Cup fans, FIFA.
AP News - Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar, Amnesty International, American Hotel & Lodging Association.
WHAT:
AP News - The bond requirement was imposed last year for travelers from 50 countries, of which five have qualified for the World Cup: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia.
AP News - The waiver for visa bonds is a rare loosening of immigration requirements under the Trump administration.
AP News - World Cup team players, coaches, and some staff were already exempt from the bond requirement prior to this announcement.
AP News - The bond requirement was imposed last year for countries that had high rates of visa overstays and security issues as part of the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on immigration.
AP News - The waiver is a rare loosening of immigration requirements under the administration and will ease travel burdens for at least some visitors to the U.S. for the World Cup.
AP News - The number of World Cup fans affected by the bond requirement was believed to be relatively small, perhaps only about 250 people, according to U.S. officials who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Fox News - The State Department is waiving visa bonds for qualified World Cup fans from five countries.
AP News - The bond requirement, which could be as high as $15,000, is suspended for citizens from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia who have purchased World Cup tickets.
AP News - The bond requirement was imposed last year for countries with high rates of visa overstays and security issues.
AP News - The waiver is expected to ease travel burdens for some visitors to the U.S. for the World Cup.
WHERE:
AP News - The United States, specifically referencing the State Department and discussions in Washington.
WHEN:
AP News - The World Cup is set to begin on June 11.
AP News - The waiver for visa bonds applies to fans who opted into the FIFA Pass system as of April 15.
WHY:
AP News - The waiver was requested by FIFA and required approval from the State Department and Department of Homeland Security.
AP News - FIFA had requested the waiver, which had to be approved by the State Department and Department of Homeland Security, and was the topic of discussion at multiple meetings at the White House and elsewhere in Washington for several months.
AP News - The bond requirement was part of a broader crackdown on immigration by the Trump administration.
AP News - FIFA requested the waiver to facilitate travel for World Cup attendees.
HOW:
AP News - The waiver allows qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets and opted into the FIFA Pass system to bypass the bond requirement and access expedited visa appointments.
AP News - The waiver allows qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets to bypass the bond requirement and opt for expedited visa appointments.
(UPDATED May 14, 2026 15:45 UTC)
In a significant development, the Trump administration has announced a waiver for visa bonds that will benefit fans from five countries—Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia—who have qualified for the World Cup. This rare loosening of immigration requirements allows qualified fans who purchased World Cup tickets and opted into the FIFA Pass system to bypass the bond requirement and access expedited visa appointments. Notably, players, coaches, and some staff from these teams were already exempt from the bond requirement prior to this announcement.
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(UPDATED May 14, 2026 09:46 UTC)
The Biden administration has granted a waiver to the bond requirement that was imposed last year for countries with high visa overstays and security concerns, a move aimed at easing travel for some visitors to the U.S. for the upcoming World Cup. This rare loosening of immigration requirements is expected to benefit around 250 fans, according to U.S. officials who spoke anonymously. The waiver was requested by FIFA and required approval from both the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, following several months of discussions in Washington.
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(UPDATED May 14, 2026 04:19 UTC)
The State Department is waiving visa bonds for qualified World Cup fans from five countries, easing travel burdens for those attending the event in the United States. Citizens from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia who purchased tickets will no longer need to meet the bond requirement, which could have been as high as $15,000, as long as they opted into the FIFA Pass system by April 15. This waiver comes ahead of the World Cup, which is set to begin on June 11, and follows a request from FIFA to facilitate travel for attendees.