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Saturday, 16 May 2026

Land of the Fee makes life difficult for African soccer fans


The United States seems determined to make life as difficult as possible for soccer fans from "unfriendly" countries hoping to attend the World Cup.

In addition to sky high ticket prices and inflated transport costs, there are also issues over visas and visa bonds.

Fans from five African nations this week got a potential $US15,000 saving - provided they are already in possession of match tickets.

The Trump administration confirmed that ticket-holding supporters from Algeria, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal and Tunisia will now be exempt from the outrageous requirement to post a bond before entering the "land of the fee".

The five were among 50 countries included in the requirement, which is intended to reduce visa overstays and was part of a wider immigration crackdown (apparently focused on black folk) by the White House.

But African fans planning a trip to a tournament spread across the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19 still neede to have plenty of cash.

"We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets," US assistant secretary of state for consular affairs Mora Namdar said in a media statement.

But in order to have the bond requirement waived, ticket holders from affected countries must have registered with the online FIFA Pass system by April 15. If not, tough luck.

Travellers from Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal are targeted. Those who did not secure their visas before December will not be granted entry to the US.

BBC Sport Africa also reported that some Ghanaians have been denied US entry visas.

Image: Cote d'Ivoire fans

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