African World Cup Nations Face Steep $15,000 US Visa Bond Hurdle for 2026 Tournament
A new US State Department policy mandates a visa bond of up to $15,000 for visitors from five African World Cup-qualified countries (Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Tunisia) entering the US for the 2026 tournament. This significant financial barrier, coupled with other high travel costs and the apparent absence of exemptions for athletes, threatens to hinder fans and potentially players from attending the competition. The policy expansion, initiated by the Trump administration, targets nations often with average annual incomes of $5,000 or less, raising concerns about equitable access to the global sporting event.