World Cup: FIFA President Infantino responds to $15K bond, travel ban concerns

President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, has assured that all national teams and their fans attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be granted access to the host countries.

He explained that FIFA is in discussions with the governments of the host nations to ensure participating teams and their contingents are allowed entry.

Infantino stated that efforts have been made to secure a quicker visa process for fans, guaranteeing they can travel to support their teams without restrictions.

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“We will make sure that all the teams, the players, the officials can come … family members, and even fans. We are in constant discussions with the American, Canadian, and Mexican governments to see how we can make it possible for fans who hold tickets to enter the country. Of course, there is a visa, but we are trying to have a quicker pass for fans. And those countries will be able to obtain visas,” Infantino said during the Seminar for World Economy event.

This assurance follows reports that fans from some African countries participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup may be required to deposit $15,000 in bond payments to obtain a tourist visa to enter the United States.

The challenges reportedly arose because nationals from certain countries traveling to the US on business or tourist visas (B-1 and B-2) have been subjected to bond payments under policy changes introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration.

The “Visa Bond Pilot Program” applies to 50 countries, five of which have qualified for the World Cup, making entry into the US problematic for their fans.

The policy has affected nationals from Algeria, Cape Verde, Senegal, and Ivory Coast since it took effect on January 2, 2026. Tunisia, another World Cup participant, will be added to the list from April 2.

Watch the video below:<\b>

Infantino is massaging facts.

For the record, 5 qualified nations — Algeria, Cape Verde, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire & Tunisia — have $15k refundable bonds imposed on their fans. Other countries also have travel bans.

"We will make sure all the teams can come" is not accurate. https://t.co/9ol6HRkocV

— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) April 16, 2026