Tunisian and Algerian Fans Could Face a $15,000 Deposit to Enter the US for World Cup 2026

According to a report by The Athletic, supporters from five nations competing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup must deposit up to $15,000 in bond payments to be granted a tourist visa to enter the United States.

The policy, known as the ‘Visa Bond Pilot Programme’, covers nationals from 50 countries travelling to the US on standard B-1 or B-2 tourist and business visas. Algeria, Cape Verde, Senegal, and the Ivory Coast have been subject to the bonds since 21 January. Tunisia was added to the list last week, with the requirement coming into effect on 2 April.

How it works

The bond must be paid per person, with payments of $5,000 broadly reserved for children and adults facing deposits of $10,000 or $15,000. A parent travelling with a child would therefore need to make two separate payments.

The money is refundable. A US State Department spokesperson confirmed to The Athletic that travellers who depart the US before their visa expires will recover their deposit, and that the requirement is not retroactive and does not apply to those who already hold valid US visas.

What about players?

The Visa Bond Pilot Programme contains no exemption for athletes competing in major sporting events. Players from the five affected nations who do not already hold US visas would need to apply for the same B-1 or B-2 visas as supporters, and could face the same bond requirements.

The US State Department told The Athletic there is ‘no procedure’ to automatically waive the bond, though consular officers may grant waivers where there is a significant national or humanitarian interest. When contacted directly, neither the State Department nor FIFA ruled out that players from the designated nations would be required to pay. FIFA declined to comment on all aspects of the report.

FIFA is attempting to convince the Trump administration to waive the bonds for official delegation members, including players, coaches, support staff, and federation executives, and is exploring the use of invitation letters to help delegations bypass the requirement. Sources close to the matter indicate that, if successful, this would likely extend to players and staff but possibly not to players’ immediate family members.

For supporters, no such exemptions appear to be under consideration. With fewer than 80 days until kick-off, the matter remains unresolved.