Claim: International football fans from 50 countries across the world don’t have to pay a $15,000 visa deposit to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Last August, the Donald Trump administration introduced a $15,000 visa bond requirement as part of a broader pilot program aimed at reducing visa overstays. The refundable bond, determined by consular officers, primarily applied to B-1/B-2 tourist and business visa applicants from countries with high overstay rates.

However, with the FIFA World Cup 2026 set to take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the policy created a potential issue for the U.S. and FIFA. With 78 matches scheduled to be hosted in the United States, officials feared the bond requirement could significantly reduce the number of international fans traveling to attend the tournament.

To address those concerns, the Trump administration has now decided to waive the bond requirement for football fans from 50 countries. This move will allow eligible supporters to travel to the U.S. for the World Cup without paying the additional $15,000 deposit, which would otherwise have been refunded upon their timely departure from the country.

Our Verdict: True

While it’s true that the Trump administration has dropped the visa bond requirement for some international fans, the exemption applies only to travellers who hold valid tickets for matches in the United States.

“We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who purchased World Cup tickets,” Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said in a statement to the BBC.

Players and coaches from qualified teams had already been exempt from the visa bond requirement, and the policy has now been extended to eligible fans as well.

In a statement, FIFA said the announcement highlights the collaboration between FIFA and the White House to ensure the World Cup becomes a record-breaking and unforgettable global event.

“We are grateful to the Administration for the ongoing partnership,” FIFA said.

However, it is important to note that the exemption has not been extended to countries such as Iran and Haiti. While players and coaches from those nations remain exempt from the visa bond requirement, fans from the Ivory Coast and Senegal, both of which have qualified for the tournament, still face partial restrictions under the expanded version of the travel ban.

The FIFA tournament begins on Thursday, June 11, 2026, with the first match set to unfold between Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City. In the United States, the first match will be on June 12, 2026. 

Our fact-checking sources:

• FIFA, March 31, 2026. View the FIFA World Cup 2026 match schedule
• Federal Register, August 05, 2025. Public Notice: 12783
• BBC, May 14, 2026. US drops $15,000 visa deposit for foreign fans with World Cup tickets