US EditionA $15K Payment Looming for some World Cup Players and Fans Just to Enter the Country
The U.S. Visa Bond Pilot Program requires up to $15,000 bonds from five World Cup nations, possibly deterring attendance and participation, with bonds refundable upon timely departure.
- Citizens of five nations qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup must pay visa bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 to enter the United States, affecting travelers from Algeria, Cape Verde, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Tunisia.
- The policy is part of President Donald Trump's Visa Bond Pilot Program, which the State Department implemented earlier this year targeting approximately 50 countries, including multiple World Cup participants.
- For a family of four traveling from affected countries, the financial burden could reach $40,000, while the upfront cost creates a significant barrier to entry for fans attending the tournament in the United States.
- FIFA is privately pressing the Trump administration to waive these requirements for players and official delegations, though no exemption is currently expected for family members.
- With less than 80 days until the tournament, an updated list of countries subject to visa bonds takes effect on April 2, leaving diplomatic tensions high as stakeholders await clarity.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Fans of some countries that will participate in the 2026 World Cup will have to pay up to 15 thousand dollars, approximately 266 thousand Mexican pesos, as bail to be able to enter the United States.This is due to the pilot visa bond program for the 2026 World Cup, called “Visa Bond”, which requires citizens of certain nations to pay from 5 thousand to 15 thousand dollars before receiving business or tourism visas to guarantee their return to th…
Mamdani admin ‘looking into’ reports that World Cup fans are facing $15,000 visa bond to enter US
Mayor Zohran Mamdani's "World Cup Czar," Maya Handa, has said that the city is "looking into" reports that fans of certain teams will be forced to pay up to $15,000 in bond payments just to obtain a tourist visa for the USA this summer. Tunisia, Senegal, Cape Verde, and the Ivory Coast, which will all compete at the World Cup this summer, are among 50 designated countries where applicants for tourist and business visas are required to pay refun…
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