Fans from five African countries travelling to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been granted relief after the Trump administration confirmed that ticket holders from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia will no longer be required to pay visa deposits.The visa bond policy, introduced as part of a wider immigration crackdown, had required travellers from several countries to pay deposits ranging between $5,000 and $15,000 to reduce visa overstays.However, the exemption only applies to supporters who had already registered with FIFAs online Fifa Pass system before April 15. The platform was introduced to help World Cup ticket holders secure faster visa appointments.Despite the waiver, many African fans still face significant challenges ahead of the tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.Supporters from Ivory Coast and Senegal continue to face partial travel restrictions under existing US immigration rules, while reports indicate that some Ghanaian fans seeking visas to attend matches in Boston and Philadelphia have already been denied entry visas.Travel costs also remain a major concern for African supporters planning to attend the competition. Fans will need to cover expensive flights, accommodation and transport across three host countries, with many also requiring separate visas for Canada or Mexico, depending on their teams fixtures.Ticket prices have also attracted attention, with some matches involving African teams costing well over $1,000 on FIFAs official platform, while resale prices have risen far higher.A record 10 African countries are set to participate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but supporters hoping to follow their teams in person are likely to face heavy financial demands and strict travel requirements.By Enoch Fiifi Forson
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