The United States will waive costly visa bond requirements for some supporters traveling from five African countries to this year’s FIFA World Cup, easing restrictions that had threatened to price many fans out of the tournament amid President Donald Trump's sweeping immigration crackdown. 

The State Department said Wednesday that ticket-holding fans from Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and Tunisia would no longer be required to pay refundable visa bonds of up to $15,000 if they registered through the FIFA PASS expedited visa system before the April 15 deadline. These five African countries are qualified to participate in the World Cup. 

Team officials and staff are also eligible for exemptions. 

The bond system, introduced last year and expanded in 2026, applies to travelers from 50 countries considered at high risk for visa overstays. US officials said the policy was designed to strengthen immigration enforcement and national security. 

"We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament," said Mora Namdar, the State Department's top consular affairs official. 

The decision comes after mounting criticism from tourism operators and football supporters who warned that the bond requirement would severely limit attendance from African nations participating in the tournament. 

A study by the Mendoza Law Firm found that the maximum $15,000 bond, is equivalent to roughly three years of average income in some affected countries.  

The World Cup, which begins June 11, will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Despite the waiver, broader immigration restrictions remain in place for some participating countries. Haiti and Iran, both World Cup qualifiers, continue to face severe US travel restrictions under Trump-era policies, raising concerns over whether ordinary supporters from those countries will be able to attend matches in large numbers ahead of kickoff on June 11.

The Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement campaign has cast uncertainty over the event, particularly after federal immigration raids intensified in major American cities and reports emerged of tourists being detained at airports.

Advocacy organizations have urged FIFA to seek guarantees that immigration enforcement operations will not target fans during the tournament, as the Trump administration continues to expand immigration raids and border controls across the country.

(Edited by CGTN Africa reporter Marion Gachuhi)