Washington cancels financial guarantee for 2026 World Cup ticket holders

The United States has announced the removal of the financial "visa sponsorship" requirement for fans wishing to attend this summer's FIFA World Cup matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The decision came in response to pressure and recommendations from the tourism sectors and international diplomatic bodies, and represents a qualitative leap that allows millions of fans, especially from the continents of Africa and Asia, to travel and support their teams without severe financial obstacles.

FIFA PASS as an alternative to expensive deposits

U.S. authorities have previously imposed a "tourist visa sponsorship" system as part of a broader effort to tighten immigration controls, obliging applicants from about 50 countries to provide high, refundable guarantees and deposits of up to $15,000 to ensure visa requirements are complied with and leave the country as soon as it expires, a measure that travel experts have warned could deprive hundreds of thousands of Round Witch fans of attending the global event.

The U.S. State Department confirmed on the pages of the official consular travel guidelines that ticket holders who register in the official FIFA PASS system before the deadlines "will not be required to provide any financial guarantees or deposits, provided they meet the eligibility criteria and the usual personal interviews."

The department said the policy change would not affect routine security and inspection procedures to ensure the safety of U.S. territory during the tournament.

Support for fans of the qualified African teams

This financial exemption will directly benefit football fans from countries whose national teams qualified for the finals of the 2026 championship, which were under the conditions of the previous sponsorship, especially Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Cape Verde, which opens the door to an unprecedented Arab and African crowd presence in American stadiums.

International tourism industry experts say the removal of sponsorship will speed up visa approvals and reduce the uncertainty faced by travelers. Although the U.S. embassies have stressed that the decision does not exempt the completion of the traditional visa application process and other identification papers, removing the $15,000 financial barrier will revive tourism and travel markets to major North American host cities.