The Trump administration announced it will waive the $15,000 visa bond requirement for soccer supporters from 50 countries, as long as they hold valid tickets for matches at the upcoming World Cup.

These nations include five that have earned spots in the competition: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia. The event kicks off on June 11, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

"We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who have purchased World Cup tickets," said Mora Namdar, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, in a statement provided to the BBC.

The policy, rolled out last year, aimed to cut down on visa overstays, as outlined in a State Department notice.

While players and coaches were previously excused from the bond, everyday fans with verified World Cup tickets were not - until this week's update.

This 12-month pilot, started in August, forms part of the broader push on immigration enforcement.

The State Department designed it to address overstays and situations with inadequate screening or vetting. Travelers would get their bond refunded upon departure.

FIFA welcomed the move in a statement, highlighting continued teamwork with the White House to ensure a landmark tournament. "We appreciate the administration's partnership," the organization added.

The suspension applies to fans from the 50 countries, though visitors from Iran and Haiti face ongoing bans. Exemptions still cover players and coaches from those nations for World Cup travel.

Qualified teams from Ivory Coast and Senegal encounter limited curbs due to an extended travel ban.

Earlier this year, U.S. officials revealed that tourists from numerous countries might need to submit five years of social media records for entry - a measure potentially impacting World Cup visitors.

Advocacy organizations caution that these rules risk entry denials, arrests, broader bans, social media checks, profiling, and heightened monitoring for travelers.