Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 3:34 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 3:34 p.m.
Fans from several countries participating in this year's World Cup must post guarantees of up to $15,000 to be issued a tourist visa to enter the US, according to material published by The Athletic. The policy affects citizens of Algeria, Cape Verde, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire. In parallel, FIFA is putting unofficial pressure on Donald Trump's administration to obtain exemptions, particularly for players.
The “Visa Guarantee Pilot Program” targets around 50 countries, five of which are World Cup qualifiers. The situation arose as a result of policy changes regarding B-1 and B-2 visas (tourist and business), introduced by the US administration, which require the deposit of substantial amounts as a guarantee.
The State Department maintains that all applicants are evaluated equally
A spokesperson for the US State Department said that all applicants, regardless of age, are subject to the same rules and must demonstrate that they meet the legal requirements for a visa. The official said people who leave the US before their visas expire will get their money back.
It was also emphasized that the measure does not apply retroactively and does not affect people who already hold valid visas.
Players aren't completely protected either
The program does not explicitly provide for exceptions for athletes participating in major competitions, such as the World Championship. Thus, players who do not already have a visa may still have to apply for standard B-1 or B-2 visas, which means they may be required to post the same guarantees.
The State Department has stated that each case will be reviewed individually, and consular officers can decide on possible exemptions only if they serve a significant national or humanitarian interest. At the same time, there is no formal procedure through which applicants can directly request such an exception.
FIFA is trying to resolve the situation
The issue has raised concern among the affected federations, especially since the tournament is less than 80 days away. Sources close to the situation said that the subject was discussed during the seminars organized by FIFA in Atlanta, which were attended by the federations involved.
The World Forum is currently trying to convince the American administration to remove the obligation of guarantees for members of official delegations. Such a decision would include players, coaches, technical staff and heads of federations, but also certain people from the sponsor area.
Behind the scenes, FIFA is also working on alternative solutions, such as issuing official letters of invitation to participating delegations. These could help avoid paying guarantees, but according to sources, any exceptions would only apply to official team members, not their families.
Huge costs for supporters
The situation directly affects fans, who may have to pay considerable sums to get to the tournament. Guarantees are set per person, not per group, meaning that each member of a family must pay separately.
Sources familiar with the process say that for children, the amount could be around $5,000, while for adults the guarantees reach $10,000 or even $15,000.
Under these conditions, although FIFA president Gianni Infantino promised a World Cup “the most inclusive in history”, the new rules risk seriously limiting access for supporters from certain countries and setting a controversial precedent ahead of the tournament.
