US eases visa deposit for five African nations heading to 2026 World Cup, with conditions

World Cup supporters from five African nations have received partial relief after the United States confirmed it will waive a visa deposit requirement for eligible ticket holders travelling to the 2026 FIFA World Cup though strict conditions still apply.

• The US has waived the visa deposit requirement for World Cup ticket holders from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia.
• The waiver is only available to fans who have purchased tickets and registered via FIFA’s visa facilitation system by April 15.
• Despite the relief, fans from Ivory Coast and Senegal may still encounter restrictions due to the US travel ban and missed visa application deadlines.
• African supporters continue to face challenges such as slow visa processing, high travel costs, and expensive ticket prices, with some resale seats over $30,000.

The move affects fans from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia, all of which have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and were previously among 50 countries included in a US visa bond policy requiring deposits of between $5,000 and $15,000 for entry into the United States.

The exemption applies only to supporters who have already purchased match tickets and registered through FIFA’s dedicated visa facilitation system.

According to the BBC, US assistant secretary of state for consular affairs Mora Namdar said: “We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets.”

However, she noted that the exemption comes with strict conditions.

African ticket holders face conditional relief

The Trump administration confirmed the policy shift late Wednesday, saying qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets would be exempt from the bond requirement.

However, they must have registered with FIFA’s online “FIFA Pass” system by April 15 to benefit from the waiver.

The system, introduced last year, is designed to speed up visa appointments for confirmed ticket holders ahead of the tournament, which will be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

FIFA described the development as part of its collaboration with US authorities to “deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event”.

But for many African supporters, the relief comes with limits.

Conditional access and lingering barriers

Despite the waiver, fans from Ivory Coast and Senegal still face partial restrictions under the US travel ban framework, meaning some applicants who missed earlier visa timelines may not qualify for entry.

Elsewhere, supporters across the continent continue to face hurdles ranging from visa processing delays to high travel and accommodation costs.

The tournament itself adds further complexity, with African teams spread across all three host nations. Only Algeria, Cape Verde and Morocco will play their group-stage matches entirely in the US, while others will require additional visas for Canada or Mexico.

A record 10 African sides will take part in the finals, but travelling supporters will still face high costs to attend matches in person

Ticket prices have also surged sharply, with resale markets showing Category 3 seats for some matches climbing above $30,000, adding to concerns about accessibility for African fans.

Even with the visa deposit reprieve, analysts say affordability and mobility remain major obstacles for supporters hoping to follow a record 10 African teams at the 2026 World Cup.