If you thought that the 2026 FIFA World Cup scheduled to take place across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico couldn’t get any worse, well, you were wrong. After entering into conflict with Iran (a nation initially expected to partake in the quadrennial tournament), banning certain nationalities from stepping foot on its soil, and aggressively strengthening the presence of ICE agents, among many other controversial measures, the country of Uncle Sam is now facing criticism after declaring that it will soon expect large financial deposits from citizens of 50 different nations if they wish to enter the United States.
As reported, applicants affected by the “Visa Bond Pilot Program” will need to deposit up to $15,000 to obtain a tourist visa. The measure, introduced in August 2025, a little less than a year after President Donald Trump returned to the White House’s presidency, has since been expanded to include additional countries— among them Tunisia— and have been introduced at different times, gradually widening its scope while raising concerns over the politicization of travel ahead of a global event.
Of the 50 nations concerned by the relatively new bill, five are expected to compete at the forthcoming edition of the FIFA World Cup: Algeria, Tunisia, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, and Senegal. This means their fans will have to navigate costly entry conditions, while it is yet to be known whether players and staff will also have to comply with these same requirements.
To current knowledge, no formal waiver program exists, though exceptions may be granted in specific cases, subject to individual review at the discretion of consular officers.
For an event that preaches unity and solidarity, the string of decisions surrounding the 2026 edition feels increasingly at odds with its own stated ethos. What’s surprising, to say the least, is the relative silence around calls for a boycott, especially when compared to the chorus that surrounded Qatar in 2022, where concerns over migrant worker conditions, environmental impact, and allegations of bribery dominated the conversation.
