As the US prepares to host most matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, an expanded visa policy could make it harder—and more expensive—for some international fans to attend.
The State Department has broadened its “visa bond” program to 50 countries, including several whose national teams are expected to compete this summer. The program is intended to curb visa overstays, but with bonds reaching as high as $15,000, it raises questions about who can realistically travel to the US for one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
What is the visa bond program, and how does it work?
The visa bond program functions like a security deposit layered onto the standard visa process. It applies to visitors applying for B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visas. Whether an applicant must post a bond is decided during the consular interview.
That interview examines the applicant’s economic and social ties to their home country, stated reasons for travel, assessed risk of overstaying, and previous travel or immigration history, says Angel Valverde, an immigration attorney at Civitas Counsel, P.A. Based on that review, consular officers determine visa ineligibilities and whether a visa bond is required.
If required, bonds typically range from $5,000 to $15,000, set case by case and able to vary by embassy and applicant. The fee is per person, so a family of four could face a minimum bond of $20,000. If the visa is granted and the traveler complies—most importantly, leaving the US on time—the bond is refunded after the trip; otherwise it may be forfeited.
Which countries are affected?
What began as a pilot in August 2025 for Malawi and Zambia has expanded to 50 countries: 30 African nations, nine in Asia, five in North America (including the Caribbean and Central America), five in Oceania, and one in South America. Recently added countries (as of April 2) include Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia.
It’s unclear whether any groups will be exempt. Previous travel bans during the Trump administration sometimes carved out athletes and officials for major events like the World Cup, but no explicit exemptions appear in the current visa bond program. A State Department spokesperson told The Athletic that “all applicants” are held to the same legal standards and must “comply with the terms of a visa,” and that applications would be “adjudicated on a case-by-case basis.”
Alexander Carl, a partner at Boulour/Carl Immigration Group, notes that athletes and official team personnel typically travel on P-1 visas, so they are unlikely to be directly affected. But for fans—and possibly some media traveling on visitor visas—the added financial burden and unpredictability could deter attendance or delay plans.
Why this matters for the World Cup
At least five countries that have qualified or are expected to qualify for the 2026 World Cup fall under the visa bond program, including Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Tunisia. For fans from those nations, attending a match in the US could require thousands of dollars upfront—refundable later, but still needing to be available immediately—on top of airfare, lodging, match tickets, and other costs.
“For countries like Cape Verde, with a relatively small population, the requirement could disproportionately limit fan turnout despite historic first participation in the tournament,” says immigration lawyer Jimmy Lai of Lai & Turner Law Firm.
Because the US will host the majority of matches, skipping the country isn’t a realistic workaround for many itineraries, even with Canada and Mexico as co-hosts. Bonds and visas are largely single-entry, which creates challenges for fans and teams who may need to move between the US, Canada, and Mexico during the tournament. While consular officers may consider individual circumstances when determining single- or multiple-entry visas, there are no uniform assurances, making planning uncertain for travelers.
Practical impacts and delays
The bond requirement is imposed after the visa interview but before issuance, adding administrative steps to arrange, post, and record the bond. This can extend visa processing timelines by several weeks. For World Cup travel—where flights, accommodations, and match attendance are date-specific—such delays can result in missed games or an inability to travel at all.
Valverde says the bond often functions less as a compliance tool and more as a deterrent to travel for otherwise bona fide fans, given the immediate financial burden and procedural uncertainty.
