The proposed 2026 FIFA world cup will be the biggest world cup event in the history of the game covering 16 cities in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico. Although this is a historic event that is likely to bring millions of fans together, the U.S scene portrays a different picture i.e., it is a scene that is characterized by the rising anxiety among immigrant communities.
Immigration enforcement policies put forward by the Trump administration have become more severe since the Trump government returned to power in 2025. An increased role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at sporting events has overshadowed what was supposed to be a global celebration with a long shadow.
ICE and CBP at the forefront of security
Federal task force and security role
An Executive Order signed by President Trump earlier this year established the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026. This move brought ICE, CBP, and the Department of Homeland Security to the center of security and logistics planning.
While federal involvement in large events isn’t new, the political context of 2025 has magnified fears. In June, CBP stated it was “suited and booted” for Club World Cup security duties but deleted the post following backlash. ICE went further, issuing an advisory for attendees—particularly non-citizens—to carry proof of legal status. While described as standard protocol, this guidance has alarmed many immigrant rights organizations.
Impact on fans and attendance
The cold effect of practiced visible immigration enforcement is described in reports of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, hosted in the U.S. as a pre-amble/warm-up tournament to the championship. Latinos and other immigrant populations preferred to avoid games due to fear of being discriminated against. Empty seats were hard to ignore. Tickets in some locations sold for less than four dollars.
According to Thomas Kennedy, an advocacy director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, speaking to a news source, it creates an environment in which people tend to avoid going to the matches because they are intimidated out of it. His message reverberated in the social media and even on the civil society networks.
In his interview with a news channel, Kennedy noted,
“If I were attending the games, I would feel anxious. Without legal status, I would likely avoid the event altogether.”
His fears reflect a growing sentiment—where excitement for soccer gives way to concern about detention, raids, and racial profiling.
Press conference outside of FIFA headquarters in Coral Gables. We want World Cup events to be held in Miami, but we also want Miami-Dade and FIFA officials to speak out and defend fans when ICE/CBP are quoted saying fans should bring proof of legal status to the games. pic.twitter.com/tvFHAw0rKR
— Thomas Kennedy (@tomaskenn) June 30, 2025
Civil society pushback and demands
Advocacy groups mobilize
On July 1, 2025, a coalition of more than 80 civil rights and labor organizations—including the ACLU, Human Rights Watch, and NAACP—sent an urgent letter to FIFA. Their demand was clear: public guarantees that stadiums and fan zones would remain free from ICE and CBP operations.
Yareliz Méndez from the American Friends Service Committee urged,
“There should be no ICE presence at the matches.”
The letter further warned that enforcement activity could “endanger countless individuals” and tarnish FIFA’s global brand.
Will Mann of the Community Justice Project added,
“287(g) agreements turn local forces into extensions of ICE, creating a dangerous environment for residents who fear being detained in their daily lives. It would be a humanitarian tragedy and an international disgrace if this happens again during the 2026 World Cup.”
Paul Christian Namphy of the Family Action network movement concurred with these issues requesting FIFA to reaffirm its stand on the safety and dignity of all visitors.
Local government and policy backdrop
287(g) agreements and host cities
Miami-Dade County, which is one of the major host cities of the world cup, is one of the countries that use the 287(g) agreement under which they work. Local police officers operate as federal immigration officials under these arrangements. It leaves a chaotic and even intimidating combination of law enforcement responsibilities which increases fear in residents.
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, though part of the local organizing committee, drew criticism for her silence during early ICE operations at soccer events. Following press reports that Coast Guard and CBP agents had boarded a barge during Miami’s club World Cup festivities and requested that individuals present proof of their immigrant status, her stance was altered. She subsequently criticized the event saying it has damaged the image of the city as a pleasant host.
FIFA’s response and the limits of influence
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has attempted to reassure the public. In a June press conference, he stated,
“I don’t have any concerns regarding security matters. Our top priority is ensuring the safety of all fans attending the games.”
However, he has not addressed civil society’s specific calls to keep ICE and CBP away from fan zones and stadiums.
FIFA has yet to release a formal agreement or memorandum with the U.S. government detailing how it will protect fans from immigration enforcement. The organization’s reputation hangs in the balance.
The challenge of U.S. law and policy
President Trump’s June 2025 proclamation banning entry from 19 countries—mostly in Africa and the Middle East—complicates matters further. While athletes and coaches have received waivers, fans and families from these regions remain excluded.
Federal officials maintain that ICE and CBP are integral to the security of mega-events. Critics argue that the true purpose may lie elsewhere. With immigration raids increasing nationwide and stories of family separation resurfacing, fears about tournament-day enforcement are not unfounded.
Economic and social stakes
Impact on attendance and revenue
The Club World Cup served as an early warning sign. Despite high expectations, poor turnout plagued the matches. Civil rights groups blame the low attendance on the presence of federal enforcement. With Hispanic fans making up a significant portion of the U.S. soccer audience, their absence would be felt both economically and culturally.
Sammers SC, a U.S. soccer supporters group, expressed concern.
“If people fear being detained, they may choose not to attend. I certainly wouldn’t,”
said the group’s national president.
Broader implications for U.S. image
The controversy surrounding ICE’s role in the World Cup has attracted global media coverage. International observers are asking whether the U.S. can serve as an inclusive host nation. The 80-member civil society coalition warned FIFA,
“If FIFA chooses to remain silent, not only will countless individuals be endangered, but the FIFA brand will also be utilized as a public relations instrument to sanitize the image of an increasingly authoritarian regime.”
Security or surveillance? The debate over federal involvement
Federal agencies defend their role by pointing to precedents such as the Super Bowl or the Olympics. In those events, ICE and CBP helped prevent trafficking, managed counterfeit goods, and ensured crowd control. But civil rights groups argue that the current climate, coupled with anti-immigration rhetoric, turns standard procedure into political intimidation.
Former ICE director John Sandweg questioned the optics and intent: “With this administration’s aggressive stance on immigration enforcement, it’s uncertain whether they have ulterior motives.” What was once seen as neutral security has now become part of a larger surveillance debate.
The path forward: can FIFA deliver a fear-free World Cup?
The 2026 World Cup was envisioned as a moment of unity for the Americas. But the reality in the U.S. paints a more divided picture. Whether FIFA can navigate the challenges posed by immigration enforcement, and reassure fans from around the world, remains to be seen.
The stakes go beyond attendance figures. They touch on civil liberties, human dignity, and the question of whether the world’s most celebrated sporting event can coexist with an environment of fear and exclusion.
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