LOS ANGELES:- The Trump administration has announced that soccer fans from 50 countries will be exempted from paying a $15,000 visa deposit for attending the World Cup. To receive this benefit, fans must have valid World Cup tickets.
Of these 50 countries, five nations – Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia – have qualified for the tournament. The World Cup, which will begin on June 11, 2026, is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
While players and coaches have previously been exempted from the deposit requirement, the same was not the case for ordinary fans until Wednesday. The 12-month trial program, which began last August, is part of the administration’s tougher immigration policy. Effective January 21, the U.S. State Department added Nepal to the list of countries requiring deposits for visitor visa applicants.
According to the US State Department, this policy was implemented to prevent visa overstays and in places where screening information was incomplete. The deposit is refundable upon return from the trip.
FIFA, the world football governing body, welcomed the move in a statement. While the exemptions apply to football fans from 50 countries, travel restrictions remain in place for travelers from Iran and Haiti. However, players and coaches from those countries will be exempted for World Cup-related travel. Travelers from Ivory Coast and Senegal may face partial disruptions due to the revised travel restrictions.