FIFA World Cup 2026 countdown: New York, New Jersey prepares
Alex Lasry, CEO of the NYNJ Host Committee, discusses the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in New York and New Jersey. He outlines plans for free fan experiences across five boroughs and New Jersey, emphasizing public transportation solutions for 1.2 million fans. Lasry confirms that real grass will be installed at MetLife Stadium for the event, highlighting the global excitement for this major sporting event.
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Citizens of a select group of countries who bought tickets to this summer’s World Cup matches in the United States will no longer be required to provide thousands of dollars in visa bonds to enter the country and participate in the tournament.
On Wednesday, the State Department confirmed that the Trump administration is waiving a prior mandate requiring visitors from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia to post visa bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the United States
The department introduced the bond requirement last year for countries it said had high rates of visa overstays and other security concerns as part of a broader immigration crackdown. Travelers from at least 50 countries are subject to the binding requirement, but the aforementioned five nations’ teams have qualified for this year’s World Cup.
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The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed outside the White House in Washington, DC, ahead of the draw for the FIFA World Cup on December 2, 2025. (Michael Regan/FIFA/Getty Images)
World Cup team players, coaches and some staff had already been exempted from the bond requirement as part of the administration’s order to prioritize the processing of visas for the tournament.
STATE DEPT STARTS ROLLING OUT FIFA passports to foreign soccer fans who want to attend the World Cup in the USA
“The United States is thrilled to host the biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history,” said Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar. “We are waiving visa guarantees for eligible fans who have purchased World Cup tickets” and signed up to the FIFA Pass system, which allows expedited visa deals from April 15.
In its own statement, FIFA said the announcement demonstrates “our ongoing cooperation with the US government and the White House task force for the FIFA World Cup to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event” and thanked the administration for the partnership.
President Donald Trump draws the USA card during the official draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC on December 5, 2025. (Michael Regan/FIFA via Getty Images)
However, the administration has barred travelers from Iran and Haiti, although World Cup players, coaches and other support staff are exempt. Travelers from Ivory Coast and Senegal face partial restrictions under an extended version of this travel ban, even without the visa waiver.
The World Cup begins on June 11 and is jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Some actions by the administration prompted Amnesty International and dozens of US civil and human rights groups to issue a “World Cup Travel Advisory” warning travelers about the climate in the US
FIFA President Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA World Cup Winners Trophy to President Donald Trump during an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on August 22, 2025. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
In a report this month, the main advocacy group for U.S. hotels blamed visa barriers and other geopolitical issues for “significantly suppressing international demand,” leading to hotel bookings for the soccer tournament far below what was originally expected.
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As of early April, the number of World Cup fans affected by the bond requirement was believed to be relatively small, perhaps only about 250 people, according to U.S. officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. But they said the number is changing rapidly as more people buy tickets and some with tickets choose not to travel.
FIFA had requested the waiver, which had to be approved by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, officials said.
