The Trump administration was considering a bond system for tourist visas. Nationals of 50 countries would have had to provide financial security to enter the United States.
Good news for supporters planning to attend the 2026 World Cup. As the competition approaches, organized from June 11 to July 19 in 23 cities across the United States (17 sites), Canada (3), and Mexico (3), Washington announced on Wednesday that it would not require a bank guarantee for tourist visas during the World Cup. Since 2025, U.S. authorities have been asking nationals from around 50 countries deemed “at risk of overstaying” to deposit an amount ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 (€4,250 to €12,800), refundable upon their return. The French are not subject to this measure.
While the United States saw a 6% decrease in foreign visitors in 2025, this bond system was particularly dissuasive for many travelers. FIFA reacted to this announcement by stating, “This demonstrates once again our continued collaboration with the United States government and the White House task force for the World Cup,” expressing their appreciation towards U.S. authorities.
Algeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia are among the countries affected. The U.S. State Department stated that the bond is now only required in limited cases. It has been eliminated for team members playing matches in the U.S., as well as for fans with an official ticket enrolled in the “FIFA Pass,” which grants them access to an expedited visa procedure. By early May, only 14,000 ticket holders had chosen this option.
For supporters from these countries meeting the conditions, the financial guarantee no longer applies. However, other travelers from these same countries who are not part of the World Cup or do not use this channel remain subject to the bank guarantee system established by Washington.
At least two other qualified countries are subject to almost total entry bans: Haiti and Iran. According to a study by the American law firm Mendoza, the Haitian team could play their group matches (in Boston, Philadelphia, and Atlanta) without any fans. The study indicates that in the five qualified countries affected by these measures, the maximum bond amount is equivalent to an average of three years of income.
The World Cup is facing a decline in international tourism. According to the specialized firm Tourism Economics, the World Cup is expected to attract nearly 1.2 million foreign tourists to the U.S. FIFA has also been under scrutiny by the European Commission for “abusing its monopoly position” in setting prices. The increase in costs, including the rise in ESTA fees and persistent inflation in tourism services, poses another obstacle.
In this context, the relaxation of entry conditions for some supporters appears to be an attempt to overcome a major obstacle. The United States is facing an estimated $12.5 billion tourism revenue loss due to the decrease in foreign visitors over the past nine months. Factors like the perceived aggressive stance of Donald Trump, the extension of entry restrictions, and debates around social media surveillance are cooling off some international clientele.
