London, England – British press reports on Wednesday revealed a new crisis that could hinder the attendance of fans of some teams that have qualified for the World Cup. This comes amid tightened entry procedures in the United States. The US has also imposed high financial guarantees for obtaining visas.
The Athletic reported that fans from several countries participating in the tournament are now required to deposit up to $15,000 as a financial guarantee to obtain a tourist visa (B-1 and B-2). This follows new changes to travel policies implemented by the Trump administration.
According to the report, this measure is part of a “visa bond pilot program” involving 50 countries. Five of these countries have already qualified for the World Cup finals, raising concerns about its impact on fan attendance during the tournament.
The report indicated that these restrictions have already been applied to citizens of Algeria, Cape Verde, Senegal, and Ivory Coast since January 21. Tunisia has now been added to the list, and the requirement will take effect for its citizens on April 2.
In response, the US State Department confirmed to the same newspaper that all visa applicants are subject to the same legal standards, regardless of age. It also clarified that applicants must demonstrate compliance with the residency requirements and leave the country before the visa expires.
The State Department added that travelers who adhere to the specified departure date will have their financial guarantee refunded. It emphasized that this procedure is not applied retroactively and does not affect holders of valid visas.
For its part, FIFA is trying to contain the crisis. To this end, it is attempting to persuade the US administration to exempt official team delegations from the financial guarantee requirement. This could include players, coaches, and technical staff, as well as federation officials and possibly some representatives of sponsors.
