Participation of Senegal, Tunisia, and Ivory Coast in the World Cup under threat as US demands $15,000 bond for African squads’ entry

Preparations for the eagerly awaited FIFA World Cup in the United States have hit a major political roadblock. Fans from several nations whose teams have qualified for the tournament are now required to pay a bond of up to $15,000 to obtain a tourist visa.

Details: According to The Athletic, this requirement is part of the “Visa Bond Pilot Program,” an initiative launched by President Donald Trump’s administration to prevent visa violations. A particular concern is the program’s lack of any explicit exemptions for athletes. As the rules currently stand, there are no guarantees of immunity for players participating in global sporting events of this magnitude.

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FIFA officials are holding intensive private talks with the White House in an attempt to secure exemptions for at least the players and official delegations. Organizers fear that bureaucratic hurdles and hefty bonds could jeopardize the participation of Africa’s top football stars, but so far, no progress has been made.

The new visa policy affects citizens of 50 countries, five of which are officially set to compete in the World Cup. The program already covers Algeria, Cape Verde, Senegal, and Ivory Coast, and as of April 2, Tunisia will officially join the list.

Reminder: Brazil national team and Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior declared that Brazil is fully prepared for the 2026 World Cup.