US drops bond requirement for FIFA World Cup ticket holders
Key takeaways
- Fans from five African World Cup qualifying nations with valid tickets are exempt from paying a hefty bond.
- In 2025, the Trump administration began requiring visitors to the US from certain countries to pay bonds of between $5,000 (€4,300) and $15,000 to obtain a tourist visa.
- The bond requirement scheme was expanded in 2026 to include 50 countries.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Fans from five African World Cup qualifying nations with valid tickets are exempt from paying a hefty bond. But fans from several other countries still face major hurdles to seeing their teams play in the United States.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Djjh Algerian fans with tickets to see their team play in the World Cup will be exempt from paying thousands of dollars in a bond to the USImage: Martin Silva Cosentino/Nur Photo/picture alliance Advertisement The United States has announced exemptions from visa bond payment requirements for FIFA World Cup ticket holders whose teams have qualified for the soccer tournament.
In 2025, the Trump administration began requiring visitors to the US from certain countries to pay bonds of between $5,000 (€4,300) and $15,000 to obtain a tourist visa.