Fans from five World Cup nations face a serious financial barrier to watching their teams play in the United States this summer, with the Trump administration requiring them to deposit up to $15,000 before a tourist visa will be granted.
The policy sits under Trump’s “Visa Bond Pilot Program,” which covers 50 countries in total. Algeria, Cape Verde, Senegal and Ivory Coast have been affected since January 21, and Tunisia was added to the list last week, coming into effect from April 2.
The money is refundable once the traveller departs on time, but for most ordinary fans, finding $15,000 upfront to hold while attending a football tournament is simply not realistic.
The bigger issue is what the policy could mean for the players themselves. There is currently no wording in the Visa Bond Pilot Program that exempts athletes competing in major sporting events, which means players from those five nations could technically be subject to the same requirement.
According to The Athletic’s Adam Crafton, FIFA has been privately pressing the Trump administration to create exemptions for players, coaches, staff and federation officials, but no formal announcement has come.
The tournament is already facing pressure on multiple fronts. Iran’s participation remains uncertain given the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Haiti qualified for the first time in over 50 years, but most of their fans cannot travel due to separate visa restrictions.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has maintained a close relationship with Trump throughout his second term, and whether that goodwill translates into practical relief for affected nations is the question football is waiting to have answered.
