The United States (US) of America has waived visa bond requirements for selected 2026 World Cup ticket holders under its FIFA PASS system, easing entry costs for international fans travelling to the tournament.
The policy removes bond payments that previously ranged from $5,000 to $15,000 (about 6.15 lakh to 18.41 lakh Bangladeshi taka) for eligible visitors. The system applied to citizens of 50 countries under an earlier US State Department rule.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said in a statement to Al Jazeera: “waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets and opted in to FIFA PASS as of April 15, 2026”.
She added that the US had already removed bond requirements for “qualifying team members, including players, coaches, and support staff who otherwise meet all requirements for entry into the US”.
Namdar said: “We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament”.
The US State Department confirmed that standard visa checks will still apply to all applicants, even under the waiver scheme. Officials introduced the FIFA PASS system to speed up processing for World Cup-related travel.
The original bond rule came into force last year under US immigration policy changes aimed at reducing visa overstay risks from selected countries. The requirement drew concern due to high upfront costs for travellers planning to attend matches.
The 2026 World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will feature 48 teams for the first time.
