Football supporters from several African countries are still facing major travel difficulties ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, despite the recent decision by the Trump administration to reverse a controversial visa bond policy for some nations.
The US government confirmed that ticket-holding fans from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia will no longer be required to pay visa bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000.
The policy, introduced last year as part of a broader immigration crackdown, had affected citizens from 50 countries and was designed to reduce visa overstays.
With 78 of the tournament’s 104 matches scheduled to take place in the United States between June 11 and July 19, 2026, the waiver offers some relief for affected supporters hoping to attend the competition.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Mora Namdar, said, “We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets.”
However, the exemption only applies to supporters who had already registered with FIFA’s online pass system before April 15, a condition that may leave many fans unable to benefit from the policy change.
FIFA described the decision as part of its ongoing collaboration with the White House to ensure a successful global tournament.
Despite the policy reversal, African supporters continue to face several obstacles, including visa restrictions, expensive travel costs, accommodation challenges and high match ticket prices.
Fans from Ivory Coast and Senegal are still affected by partial travel restrictions under the Trump administration’s broader immigration policies. Reports indicate that supporters from both countries who failed to secure visas before December may no longer qualify for visitor visas to the United States.
BBC Sport Africa also reported that some Ghanaian fans planning to watch matches in Boston and Philadelphia have already been denied US visas.
Beyond visa concerns, travelling across three host countries, the United States, Canada and Mexico presents another challenge for African supporters.
Fans from Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal will require additional visas to enter Canada for matches scheduled in Toronto and Vancouver, while supporters of DR Congo, South Africa and Tunisia may also need Mexican entry permits during the group stage.
Only Algeria, Cape Verde and Morocco are expected to remain within the United States throughout the group stage fixtures.
The financial burden of attending the tournament has also raised concerns among supporters.
Ticket prices for matches involving African teams remain extremely high. As of Thursday, some of the cheapest available tickets for Egypt’s match against Belgium were priced at around $600, while most other tickets for African team fixtures exceeded $1,170.
The opening match between Mexico and South Africa reportedly had tickets selling for as much as $3,840 on FIFA’s official platform.
On FIFA’s resale marketplace, prices were significantly higher, with two category-three tickets for the Mexico City opener listed at an astonishing $34,500 each.
In addition, the US government recently announced plans requiring travellers from dozens of countries to provide up to five years of social media history as part of visa applications.
Human rights organisations have warned that such measures could expose travellers to increased surveillance, racial profiling, stricter entry checks and possible visa denials.
A record 10 African nations will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but many supporters hoping to cheer their teams in person may find the journey financially and logistically difficult.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
