9 millions de caution pour voir les Lions aux USA ? Le mur financier de Trump pour le Mondial
Fans from some countries will have to pay up to $15,000 in deposit (approximately 9,100,000 FCFA) to obtain a visa to travel to the United States during the 2026 World Cup. Behind the scenes, FIFA is lobbying the Trump administration to exempt official delegations from this requirement.
Algeria, Cape Verde, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Tunisia are directly targeted. These five qualifying nations are among a list of 50 countries whose citizens will be subject to the "Visa Bond Pilot Program." To enter the United States, each adult visitor will have to post a bond of between $10,000 and $15,000 (approximately 6,000,000 to 9,100,000 CFA francs). For a child, this amount could be capped at $5,000 (approximately 3,000,000 CFA francs).
This program will come into effect on April 2, 2026.
According to The Athletic, no waiver procedure is currently in place, which theoretically includes players, coaches, and technical staff. The deposit will only be refunded if the visitor leaves the United States before their visa expires.
FIFA is trying to save the delegations, not the fans
Concerned about the logistical and financial impact on the competition, FIFA is currently negotiating with Washington. The international governing body hopes to obtain exemptions through official letters of invitation for players and staff. However, according to a source close to the matter, this exemption would not apply to players' families or fans.
The US government defends this measure by claiming it has proven effective in "deterring illegal immigration," reiterating that border security "will always come first."
This financial barrier risks emptying stadiums of their African supporters. As a reminder, Ivory Coast and Senegal each have two group matches scheduled in the United States. The Lions of Teranga are notably set to face France on June 16th. Tunisia will play one match there, while Algeria and Cape Verde are scheduled to play all three of their group matches on American soil.
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