The Trump administration has waived the $15,000 visa bond requirement for a targeted group of foreign ticket holders from nations that qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This exception applies to nationals who purchased official tournament tickets by April 15 and opted into FIFA’s Priority Appointment Scheduling System while meeting all standard U.S. visitor visa eligibility criteria.

The waiver does not eliminate existing security screening or vetting processes. Applicants must still undergo rigorous consular review, demonstrate full compliance with U.S. entry requirements, and pass the same admissibility checks as other visa applicants. The policy change specifically targets ticket holders from qualifying countries who have already cleared all prior hurdles—such as those from Algeria, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Tunisia—to ensure only verified attendees benefit from the exception.

The waiver builds upon a 12-month pilot program launched in August 2025, which required certain B-1/B-2 visa applicants to post bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 based on individual risk assessments. The administration confirmed that this targeted relief remains within the framework of the original program’s enforcement purpose and does not alter broader immigration standards.

State Department guidelines clarify that the exemption applies solely to individuals who meet all FIFA-verified conditions and pass standard U.S. visa screening. A World Cup ticket alone does not grant entry; applicants must still demonstrate eligibility through rigorous vetting procedures before receiving a visa or entering the country. The policy remains narrowly scoped, affecting only a verified subset of international fans while maintaining the administration’s commitment to secure event operations across 16 American stadiums and venues in Canada and Mexico.