Good news for fans of the 2026 World Cup, they will no longer need to leave 15,000…

Facing backlash, Donald Trump announced a loosening of rules aimed at foreigners holding a ticket to attend a World Cup match. Algerians, Tunisians, and Senegalese were particularly affected.

The United States announced on Wednesday the relaxation of their bank guarantee system for tourist visa applications, which was deemed exorbitant for supporters from several countries wishing to attend the World Cup.

As part of President Donald Trump’s strict immigration policy, the United States required citizens from 50 developing countries to provide a $5,000 to $15,000 (€4,250 to €12,800) bond to obtain a visa, refundable upon their return home.

The State Department stated that this bond no longer applies to team members participating in World Cup matches on American soil and supporters from competing countries who already have tickets and have signed up for the “FIFA Fan Pass”, a priority system established for visa issuance.

Context: The US had stringent visa requirements for supporters from certain countries attending the World Cup due to security concerns.

Fact Check: The bond requirement has been waived for World Cup attendees, including citizens from Algeria, Tunisia, and Senegal.

According to the State Department, only 14,000 ticket holders had chosen the priority option by early May.

“We remain committed to enhancing U.S. priorities in national security while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar.

Five qualified World Cup countries were among those whose citizens were required to pay bonds: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia. At least two other qualified countries faced nearly total entry bans: Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, and Iran, targeted by Israeli-American airstrikes on February 28 that escalated regional conflict.

The Trump administration has also significantly increased scrutiny on citizens from friendly Western countries by requiring access to their social media posts.

According to a study by the American law firm Mendoza, the Haitian Grenadiers may play their group stage matches (in Boston, Philadelphia, and Atlanta) without any supporters from Haiti. The study indicates that in the five qualified and affected countries subject to bonds, $15,000 on average is equivalent to three years of income.