2026 FIFA World Cup: US Eases Visa Restrictions on 5 African Countries, Waives $15,000 Bond for Fans
- The United States has eased visa restrictions for fans from five African countries ahead of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup
- Supporters must register through FIFA's visa facilitation system to qualify for the US government's new immigration waiver
- Despite the waiver, Ivory Coast and Senegal supporters may still face immigration barriers due to other restrictions by the US
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Supporters from five African countries have received major relief after the United States government, under President Donald Trump, eased some visa restrictions ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Source: Getty Images
The US government recently announced that it has suspended a requirement that would have required visitors from five African countries to pay a bond of up to $15,000 to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament in June.
The new waiver applies only to fans who purchased valid tickets for the edition being co-hosted in North America and registered through FIFA’s visa facilitation system by April 15, 2026.
The US State Department imposed the bond requirement on countries it claimed had high rates of visa overstays and had other security issues as part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration.
5 African countries to benefit from waiver
Citizens from five African countries that have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup – Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Tunisia – will benefit from the new waiver.
In 2025, the five African states were among 50 countries placed on the list of visa overstayers and were required to pay the hefty $15,000 bond before entering the US.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said:
“We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets."
Who qualifies for the US visa waiver?
According to The Guardian, the US visa exemption for supporters from the five countries is not automatic.
Fans who will be granted entry into the US must have registered through the online FIFA Pass system by April 15.
The system was introduced to speed up visa appointments for confirmed ticket holders ahead of the football tournament, which will be played across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
FIFA described the move as part of its collaboration with US authorities to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event.
Source: Getty Images
Ivory Coast and Senegal still face restrictions
Despite the waiver, supporters from the Ivory Coast and Senegal may still face immigration restrictions due to the US travel ban and missed visa application deadlines.
As a result, some fans may not qualify to enter the US even if they purchase valid tickets.
These fans may continue to face barriers such as slow visa processing, high travel costs and soaring ticket prices.
Resale markets have shown Category 3 seats for some matches, climbing above $30,000, raising accessibility concerns.
US Embassy update for Ghanaian ticket holders
Earlier, YEN.com.gh also reported that the US Embassy had shared an update on social media for World Cup ticket holders from Ghana.
The embassy gave Ghanaians intending to travel and support the Black Stars priority access to visa appointments under the FIFA PASS initiative.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
