Citizens of five countries participating in the 2026 World Cup will have to make a special guarantee payment in the process of obtaining a US visa.
According to The Athletic, the problem is related to the Visa Bond pilot program currently operating in the US. According to the program, citizens of 50 countries are required to pay a deposit of 10-15 thousand dollars when entering through a business or tourist visa. The fee will be refunded upon departure from the U.S. before the expiration of the visa.
The countries included in the program include Algeria, Cape Verde, Senegal, and Côte d'Ivoire - their national teams also qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Also, from April 2, the rules will apply to citizens of Tunisia.
The Visa Bond pilot program does not provide for special exceptions for participants in international sports competitions. This situation caused concern among football federations, and the issue was also discussed at preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
Currently, FIFA is urging the US administration to make exceptions for players, coaching staff, national team staff, and federation leaders. If the U.S. government meets FIFA's requirement, the exception will only apply to members of the national team, but the payment of warranty money for players' family members and fans will remain mandatory.
According to experts, this difficulty once again demonstrates the importance of visa policy in the USA and agreements between the organization of international sports events. The topic is noteworthy for citizens and fans, as it serves as a key factor in financial planning for many team members and their family members.
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