The administration of Donald Trump has reaffirmed that African fans travelling to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be required to pay a visa bond of up to $15,000 before entry, a move that has triggered widespread concern over accessibility and fairness.

The tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with several matches to be played on American soil.

Under the policy, travellers applying for B-1/B-2 tourist and business visas from certain countries must pay a refundable security deposit ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The bond is returned once the visitor exits the U.S. within the terms of their visa, but forfeited in cases of overstay.

The measure affects citizens from countries including Algeria, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Tunisia and Cape Verde, all of which have qualified for the tournament. Nigerian citizens were also brought under the policy in late 2025.

U.S. authorities say the visa bond system is designed to reduce visa overstays and curb illegal immigration. However, critics argue that the financial requirement could effectively shut out thousands of genuine fans, particularly from countries where average annual incomes are significantly lower than the bond amount.

While matches scheduled in Canada and Mexico are not affected by the policy, fans hoping to attend games in the United States must meet the bond requirement, adding to already high travel, accommodation and ticket costs.

The U.S. Department of State expanded the visa bond programme in 2026 to cover travellers from about 50 countries across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and parts of Asia. Despite exemptions typically granted to athletes and officials during major sporting events, it remains unclear whether such waivers will apply under the current bond scheme.

With some African teams set to play multiple matches in the United States, concerns persist that the policy could dampen fan participation and undermine the inclusive spirit of the global football tournament.

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