Countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup: New York and New Jersey prepare
NYNJ Host Committee CEO Alex Lasry discusses the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in New York and New Jersey. It details plans for free fan experiences in five boroughs and New Jersey, with a focus on transit solutions for 1.2 million fans. Lasry confirms that real turf will be installed at MetLife Stadium for the event, highlighting the global excitement surrounding this major sporting event.
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Citizens of a select group of countries who purchased tickets to this summer’s World Cup matches in the United States will no longer be required to provide thousands of dollars in visa deposits to enter the country and attend the tournament.
On Wednesday, the State Department confirmed that the Trump administration was waiving a prior mandate requiring visitors from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia to post a visa deposit of up to $15,000 to enter the United States.
The department last year imposed the bond requirement for countries it said had high rates of visa overstays and other security problems, as part of a broader crackdown on immigration. Travelers from at least 50 countries are subject to the deposit requirement, but teams from the five aforementioned nations have qualified for this year’s World Cup.
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The FIFA World Cup Trophy is on display in front of the White House in Washington, DC, ahead of the FIFA World Cup draw on December 2, 2025. (Michael Regan/FIFA/Getty Images)
Players, coaches and some World Cup team staff had already been exempted from the bond requirement as part of the administration’s orders to prioritize visa processing for the tournament.
STATE DEPARTMENT STARTS ROLLING OUT FIFA PASS FOR FOREIGN FOOTBALL FANS LOOKING TO ATTEND WORLD CUP IN USA
“The United States is thrilled to host the biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history,” said Mora Namdar, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs. “We are waiving visa requirements for qualified fans who have purchased World Cup tickets” and have opted for the FIFA Pass system which allows expedited visa appointments starting April 15.
In its own statement, FIFA said the announcement demonstrated “our continued collaboration with the U.S. government and the White House FIFA World Cup Task Force to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event” and thanked the administration for the partnership.
President Donald Trump draws the United States card during the official draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, December 5, 2025. (Michael Regan/FIFA via Getty Images)
However, the administration has banned 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 expanded version of this travel ban, even without the visa deposit waiver.
The World Cup begins June 11 and is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Some of the administration’s actions prompted Amnesty International and dozens of U.S. civil and human rights organizations to issue a “World Cup Travel Advisory” that warns travelers about the climate in the United States.
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, August 22, 2025. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
In a report released this month, the leading U.S. hotel advocacy group blamed visa barriers and other geopolitical issues for “significantly suppressing international demand,” leading to hotel bookings for the soccer tournament far lower than initially anticipated.
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As of early April, the number of World Cup fans affected by the bail 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 that figure is changing quickly as more people buy tickets and some ticket holders 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.
