Donald Trump ‘pressed’ by FIFA to make visa exception ahead of World Cup

March 27, 2026 Oliver Obel

FIFA is seeking urgent clarification from the US government as a new immigration policy threatens to complicate travel plans ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

The governing body is understood to be lobbying behind the scenes for exemptions, amid uncertainty over whether players, officials and support staff could face costly entry requirements when arriving in the United States.

The issue has raised fresh concerns about logistics for a tournament already expected to involve significant cross-border coordination.

New entry requirement raises questions

At the center of the uncertainty is Washington’s newly introduced “Visa Bond Pilot Program,” part of a broader crackdown aimed at reducing visa overstays. The policy is scheduled to take effect on April 2, 2026, and will apply to travelers from 50 countries.

According to Reuters, visitors from those nations entering the US on business or tourist visas could be required to pay bonds of up to $15,000. US officials say the funds would be returned if travelers comply fully with visa conditions or ultimately decide not to proceed with their trip.

The State Department has said the program targets countries with historically higher rates of overstaying visas, though it has not provided detailed guidance on how the rules will be applied in practice during major international events.

World Cup participants affected

Five of the countries included on the list—Algeria, Cape Verde, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Tunisia—are set to compete at the upcoming World Cup.

Some of those nations have already been subject to the policy since January, while Tunisia was only recently added. As it stands, the requirement could apply broadly across traveling delegations, potentially affecting not only supporters but also players, coaching teams, federation officials and operational staff.

That prospect has raised concerns among football associations, particularly for nations where additional financial guarantees could present a logistical burden.

FIFA pushes for exemptions

According to The Athletic, FIFA is “privately pressing” the Trump administration to ensure that players are exempt from the bond requirement.

However, the current policy leaves little room for flexibility. Official guidance states there is “no procedure” to request a waiver, and neither FIFA nor the US State Department has publicly clarified whether elite athletes or tournament personnel will be treated differently.

The lack of a clear exemption process has added to the uncertainty, with teams still waiting for definitive guidance as preparations continue.

Pressure builds ahead of kickoff

With the World Cup fast approaching, organizers are already managing the complexities of transporting teams, equipment and staff across multiple host venues.

Any additional administrative or financial hurdle risks creating last-minute complications, particularly for smaller federations operating with tighter budgets. Travel timelines, visa processing and compliance requirements are all expected to come under increased scrutiny if the policy is enforced without adjustments.

For FIFA, securing clarity—and ideally exemptions—has become a priority in order to avoid disruption to the tournament.

Unless a resolution is reached in the coming weeks, questions around entry requirements could linger as an unwelcome distraction in the build-up to one of the sport’s biggest global events.

Sources: Reuters, The Athletic