To create an Azure account, a credit card is required for several reasons, including identity verification and to cover any services not included in the sponsorship. If you do not have a credit card, you might consider using the invoice payment method if you represent a business. This allows you to pay for your Azure subscription via wire transfer instead of a credit card. However, once you set up the account to pay by invoice, you cannot change to another payment option unless you have a Microsoft Customer Agreement and signed up for Azure through the Azure website.
If you are an individual without a credit card, you may need to explore alternative options or consider obtaining a credit card to proceed with the account creation.