WTTC CEO Gloria Guevara welcomed the US decision to waive visa bond requirements for eligible FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket holders, calling it a major step toward rebuilding international visitor confidence. WTTC has intensified high-level engagement with the US administration to encourage more welcoming travel policies amid declining foreign arrivals.
The World Travel & Tourism Council has welcomed a new US decision to waive visa bond requirements for eligible FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket holders, calling it a meaningful step towards restoring confidence among international visitors.
WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara said: “We welcome the US decision to waive visa bond requirements for FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket holders — a meaningful step that will allow more fans to travel and experience one of the world’s greatest sporting events.”
The waiver applies to qualified fans who purchased World Cup tickets and opted into FIFA PASS, the priority visa appointment system, by April 15, 2026, according to the US State Department. The visa bond rule had required some B1/B2 applicants from designated countries to post refundable bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000.
The decision comes at a critical moment. The United States, co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Canada and Mexico, has been facing growing concerns from the global travel industry over policies that have created fear, uncertainty, and hesitation among potential visitors.
We welcome the US decision to waive visa bond requirements for FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket holders – a meaningful step that will allow more fans to travel and experience one of the world’s greatest sporting events.
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/DwLQSFASlz@FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/XdCfO2BQdF
— WTTC (@WTTC) May 18, 2026
WTTC has been among the few global organizations actively seeking common ground with the US administration. Guevara and WTTC have engaged in high-level outreach, including meetings in Washington and at the White House, while also bringing government and private-sector leaders together during WTTC’s recently concluded Recovery & Leadership Cruise in Egypt.
That Egypt event gathered more than 300 public- and private-sector leaders aboard Crystal Serenity during a Suez Canal program focused on global tourism recovery, resilience, and public-private cooperation. US officials attended this important event.
For WTTC, the visa bond waiver is more than a technical policy adjustment. It is a signal that dialogue can work.
While many US-based tourism associations and boards have been cautious about publicly challenging federal travel policies, WTTC has taken a more direct diplomatic approach: engaging, not attacking; advising, not isolating; and reminding policymakers that travel is an economic engine.
The stakes are high. WTTC data showed the US recorded a 6% decline in foreign visitors in 2025, even as global tourism spending rose. Reuters reported that WTTC linked part of the decline to concerns around US immigration and border policies.
With FIFA World Cup 2026 approaching, the US has a rare opportunity to reset the message. Waiving visa bonds for eligible ticket holders is a step in the right direction, but the broader challenge remains: convincing the world that America is open, welcoming, and ready to host.
For Guevara and WTTC, the message is clear. Travel grows when governments listen, when barriers are reduced, and when visitors feel welcome before they ever board a plane.
