--- title: U.S. Waives Visa Bonds for World Cup Ticketholders From Some Countries description: The waiver comes as concerns grow around travel restrictions and the potential presence of ICE agents at World Cup matches. canonical: https://time.com/article/2026/05/14/fifa-world-cup-us-visa-bonds-waiver-immigration-ice/ author: Miranda Jeyaretnam article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2026-05-14T08:15:00.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-07-30T08:39:51.732Z article:section: Sports og:title: U.S. Waives Visa Bonds for World Cup Ticketholders From Some Countries og:description: The waiver comes as concerns grow around travel restrictions and the potential presence of ICE agents at World Cup matches. og:url: https://time.com/article/2026/05/14/fifa-world-cup-us-visa-bonds-waiver-immigration-ice/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3b6e9c47005be920/6a05831fa1d260d725a38143/fifa_peace_prize.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: fifa peace prize.jpg og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: U.S. Waives Visa Bonds for World Cup Ticketholders From Some Countries twitter:description: The waiver comes as concerns grow around travel restrictions and the potential presence of ICE agents at World Cup matches. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3b6e9c47005be920/6a05831fa1d260d725a38143/fifa_peace_prize.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # U.S. Waives Visa Bonds for World Cup Ticketholders From Some Countries > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with Ally. Ally is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: July 2026. ## Ally: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Ally is a digital financial services company offering online-only banking, including checking and savings accounts, through Ally.com and its mobile apps. Launched in 2009 as an original disruptor in financial services, Ally was built to challenge outdated banking norms with a simpler, more convenient way to bank. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account.  by [Miranda Jeyaretnam](https://time.com/author/miranda-jeyaretnam/)  ## Miranda Jeyaretnam Reporter May 14, 2026 8:15 AM UTC  The FIFA Peace Prize, presented to President Donald Trump at the 2025 World Cup Draw, displayed next to the FIFA World Cup Trophy during the Kennedy Center Honors medal presentation ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 6, 2025. The FIFA Peace Prize, presented to President Donald Trump at the 2025 World Cup Draw, displayed next to the FIFA World Cup Trophy during the Kennedy Center Honors medal presentation ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 6, 2025.Bonnie Cash—UPI/Bloomberg/Getty Images  by [Miranda Jeyaretnam](https://time.com/author/miranda-jeyaretnam/)  ## Miranda Jeyaretnam Reporter May 14, 2026 8:15 AM UTC For months, citizens of 50 countries have been required to post [bonds of up to $15,000](https://time.com/7344076/us-trump-visa-bonds-amount-average-income-countries-list-expanded/) in order to secure a temporary U.S. visa as part of a policy aimed at curtailing visa overstays. But as the U.S. prepares to co-host the [2026 FIFA World Cup](https://time.com/7280401/fifa-world-cup-2026-host-cities-qualifiers-how-to-watch-winners/) this summer, with fans from across the world looking to come support their teams but nervous about President Donald Trump’s [policies toward foreigners](https://time.com/7304805/us-tourists-visa-integrity-fee-refund-trump-big-beautiful-bill/), the Trump Administration announced that it would waive the bonds for certain ticketholders. Five countries—Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia—that are subject to the visa bond policy have qualified for the World Cup. Ticketholders from those countries are now exempt from the visa bonds, according to an [update to the State Department’s website](https://www.state.gov/fifa-world-cup-26-visas-pass-faq) on Wednesday. “As part of President Trump’s commitment to hosting the biggest, best, and safest sporting event in World Cup history, the Administration will waive the visa bond requirement for certain individuals traveling to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” the State Department said. The visa bond will be waived for citizens of competing countries who have purchased FIFA World Cup tickets and opted into the fast-track visa processing system, FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (PASS), by April 15. Visitors to the U.S. for the World Cup, the State Department said, will still be subject to regular visa screening and vetting, which has become more stringent during Trump’s second term. The U.S. expects up to 10 million visitors for the soccer tournament, which takes place from June 11 to July 19 in 11 cities across the U.S., as well as in Mexico and Canada. “We remain committed to strengthening U.S. national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament,” Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar told the [Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/trump-world-cup-visa-bonds-a3a165fb5c2d215c5cd237d7a2e783ad). Some fans, players, and observers have [expressed concern](https://time.com/7358117/fifa-world-cup-boycott-soccer-football-trump-infantino/) about the U.S. hosting the tournament amid the Trump Administration’s [tightening of travel restrictions](https://time.com/7301187/china-visa-free-travel-countries-tourism-us-trump-isolation-economy/) to the U.S. and [aggressive immigration crackdown](https://time.com/7344924/federal-officers-shooting-immigration-portland-minneapolis-prosecution-immunity/) across the country. Trump’s policies, which include [sweeping travel bans](https://time.com/7291314/trump-new-travel-ban-countries-immigrant-entry-restrictions-nonimmigrant-visas/) and a [mass deportation](https://time.com/7291757/trump-deportation-ice-el-salvador/) operation, seem at odds with FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s [promise](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXZ9dSMiDVW/) to make this year’s World Cup the “most inclusive” in history, critics have said. **Read More:** [_Calls for a Boycott of the World Cup Grow_](https://time.com/7358117/fifa-world-cup-boycott-soccer-football-trump-infantino/) In a statement to media outlets, FIFA said the visa bond waiver demonstrates “our ongoing collaboration with the U.S. government and the White House task force for the FIFA World Cup to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event.” The Trump Administration previously waived the bond requirement for “qualifying team members, including players, coaches, and support staff who otherwise meet all requirements for entry into the U.S.,” Namdar said. ## Immigration concerns The [visa bond policy](https://time.com/7307504/us-visa-application-bonds-state-department/), initially launched in August and later expanded, is part of the Trump Administration’s broader effort to clamp down on both legal and illegal immigration to the U.S. The Administration has said that the bond requirement affects 50 countries whose nationals have travelled to the U.S. on legal visas but frequently overstay their visas. Applicants from those countries are required to pay $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, which is refunded if they comply with the terms of the visa, including departing the U.S. on time, or if their visa application is denied. The bond requirement was estimated to affect around 250 people as of early April, officials told the AP. FIFA reportedly requested the waiver and discussed the issue at multiple meetings with the Trump Administration over several months. While the waiver provides relief to some fans attending the World Cup, other immigration and travel restrictions remain in place. At least 39 countries [face travel bans or restrictions](https://time.com/7341347/travel-ban-immigration-countries/), including the Ivory Coast and Senegal. Haiti and Iran, both of which have qualified for the World Cup, are also subject to travel bans. The U.S. has lifted restrictions for team members and personnel from these countries but not for fans. Iran’s participation in the World Cup has been [a point of uncertainty](https://time.com/article/2026/04/23/iran-italy-world-cup-us-war-soccer-diplomacy/), amid the country’s [shaky cease-fire with the U.S.](https://time.com/article/2026/05/11/us-iran-israel-war-trump-netanyahu-peace-talks-latest/), although Infantino [said earlier this month](https://time.com/article/2026/04/30/iran-world-cup-fifa/) that Iran will participate. Visitors to the U.S. will also be subject to new screening requirements, potentially including a [proposed rule](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1dz0g2ykpeo) requiring tourists to submit their [social media histories](https://time.com/7295949/international-student-visas-colleges-universities-social-media-state-department-trump/). The American Civil Liberties Union and Amnesty International, along with more than 120 organizations, issued a [“travel advisory” for the U.S.](https://www.aclu.org/documents/2026-world-cup-travel-advisory) last month, warning World Cup fans about the “deteriorating human rights situation,” including increased surveillance, immigration enforcement, and the possibility of detention or deportation. The advisory also said there has been an “absence of meaningful action and concrete guarantees from FIFA, host cities, or the U.S. government.” The White House at the time called the advisory “ridiculous scare tactics driven by liberal activist groups and the left-wing media.” Others have [called for fans to boycott](https://time.com/7358117/fifa-world-cup-boycott-soccer-football-trump-infantino/) the U.S.-hosted tournament. A number of European lawmakers, as well as prominent soccer figures, pointed to Trump’s [tariffs](https://time.com/article/2026/05/08/fresh-setback-for-trump-s-tariffs-as-he-threatens-europe-with-much-higher-levy/), [expansionist foreign policy](https://time.com/7344147/greenland-denmark-trump-takeover-independence-purchase-military-nato/), and [violent immigration crackdown](https://time.com/7346017/ice-immigration-agents-power-shooting-force-arrests-investigation-prosecution/) as reasons fans should avoid travelling to the country. Critics have also raised concerns over the involvement of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at other sporting events. ICE agents were [part of security operations for the U.S. delegation](https://time.com/7358275/ice-winter-olympics-2026-italy-leaders/) at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics earlier this year, although they did not play an immigration role. A Department of Homeland Security official also [threatened to send immigration agents to the Super Bowl](https://time.com/7372704/bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show/), where Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny [performed the Halftime Show](https://time.com/7373018/bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show-analysis/) in February. ICE agents were also [deployed to airports during the partial federal shutdown](https://time.com/article/2026/03/21/ice-airports-tsa-wait-times/) in March when Transportation Security Administration personnel [were not paid and shortstaffed](https://time.com/article/2026/03/17/government-shutdown-tsa-democrats-congress-trump/). White House “border czar” Tom Homan said last month that immigration agents could [play a longer-term role at airports](https://time.com/article/2026/03/30/tom-homan-ice-airports-tsa-agents-pay-wait-times-lines/) despite TSA workers [expressing anger at the move](https://time.com/article/2026/03/23/tsa-agents-ice-airports-trump-dhs-reactions/).And DHS said it is offering ICE agents to local police departments and federal agencies to provide security for the World Cup. Officials told [NBC](https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/soccer/ice-may-world-cup-matches-us-rcna344797) this week that the agents will not be screening people for immigration status, although they have not been expressly prohibited from making arrests at the matches. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/05/14/fifa-world-cup-us-visa-bonds-waiver-immigration-ice/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/05/14/fifa-world-cup-us-visa-bonds-waiver-immigration-ice/"},"headline":"U.S. Waives Visa Bonds for World Cup Ticketholders From Some Countries","datePublished":"2026-05-14T08:15:00.000Z","dateModified":"2026-07-30T08:39:51.732Z","description":"The waiver comes as concerns grow around travel restrictions and the potential presence of ICE agents at World Cup matches.","url":"https://time.com/article/2026/05/14/fifa-world-cup-us-visa-bonds-waiver-immigration-ice/","keywords":["Soccer","News Desk","overnight","Immigration"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3b6e9c47005be920/6a05831fa1d260d725a38143/fifa_peace_prize.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Miranda Jeyaretnam","jobTitle":"Reporter","url":"https://time.com/author/miranda-jeyaretnam/"}],"articleSection":"Sports","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3b6e9c47005be920/6a05831fa1d260d725a38143/fifa_peace_prize.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"fifa peace prize.jpg","caption":"","creditText":"Bonnie Cash—UPI/Bloomberg/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/sports/","name":"Sports"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/soccer/","name":"Soccer"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/05/14/fifa-world-cup-us-visa-bonds-waiver-immigration-ice/","name":"U.S. Waives Visa Bonds for World Cup Ticketholders From Some Countries"}}]}] ```