Trump administration make huge decision directly impacting World Cup as FIFA issue statement

The US government has made a major decision that will directly impact FIFA World Cup fans ahead of the 2026 tournament.

With the domestic season drawing to a close, attention will soon turn to what is set to be the biggest World Cup in history.

The expanded competition will see 48 nations compete in 104 matches across three host countries: the US, Canada and Mexico.

However, concerns have already emerged.

Questions have been raised over Iran’s participation, given the country’s strained relations with the US. Despite months of uncertainty, it now appears the Middle Eastern nation will still take part.

There are also ongoing concerns about player welfare, with high temperatures expected to pose challenges for teams.

In addition, there were previously fears that fans – and even players – travelling to the US from abroad could be required to pay visa bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 after a policy change by President Donald Trump’s administration.

The Visa Bond Pilot Program impacted 50 countries, with five of them qualifying for the World Cup. Citizens of Algeria, Cape Verde, Senegal, the Ivory Coast and Tunisia were all affected.

The initial idea behind the bond requirement was to reduce visa overstays.

On April 27, The Athletic reported that visa applicants must demonstrate how they qualify for a visa to enter the US, with those who depart ‘in a timely fashion’ able to recover their initial bond payment.

At the time, there were also fears that players would be forced to go through the same process, as no waiver was in place.

However, the US State Department has since announced that it has waived bond requirements for “qualifying team members, including players, coaches and support staff who otherwise meet all requirements for entry into the US”.

On May 13, the US government said it would waive costly visa bonds for World Cup ticket holders in a statement to Al Jazeera.

US Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar explained that the administration is “waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets and opted in to FIFA PASS as of April 15, 2026”.

“We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament,” she added.

The US Department of State also made clear that visitors with match tickets would still go through the usual visa checks.

The tournament gets under way on June 11, with co-hosts Mexico facing South Africa in Mexico City.

FIFA issue statement on decision

Following the decision, FIFA released the following statement: “Today’s announcement from the U.S. State Department further 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.

"We are grateful to the Administration for the ongoing partnership. With less than 30 days until kickoff, the excitement for the FIFA World Cup is rapidly building among stakeholders as we prepare to welcome the world to North America for this incredible event.”