United States President Donald Trump is walking back a policy regarding foreigners from countries that qualified for the World Cup. The policy in question was issued by the State Department last year for countries that it said had high rates of people overstaying their visas and other security issues, and would have required ticket holders to pay as much as $15,000 to enter the U.S.
On Wednesday, however, the department announced that the Trump administration would be suspending the policy for foreigners from countries that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup and have purchased tickets to a match.
Citizens from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia are now exempt from having to pay the bond, so long as they have purchased their tickets through FIFA.
“The United States is excited to organize the biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history,” Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said, via the Associated Press. “We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets.”
Trump has previously spoken out about the World Cup’s high ticket prices, saying that he was the average cost for a ticket to the final was over $12,000.
“I did not know that number,” Trump said. “I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you.”
The President even kept the possibility of his administration getting involved to help bring down the prices open.
“I haven’t seen that, but I would have to take a look at it,” he said.
“If people from Queens and Brooklyn and all of the people that love Donald Trump can’t go, I would be disappointed, but, you know, at the same time, it’s an amazing success,” he added. “I would like to be able to have the people that voted for me to be able to go.”
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.