FIFA, football’s global governing body, is reportedly considering an appeal to United States President Donald Trump to implement a full moratorium on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids during the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. According to The Athletic, FIFA executives have urged president Gianni Infantino to engage with Trump on the issue, amid concerns that fans from hundreds of countries could face heightened scrutiny or enforcement actions by US immigration authorities during the tournament, which kicks off in less than two months.
Infantino is allegedly weighing a direct request to Trump, leveraging their friendly relationship to seek a temporary halt to ICE operations. However, the Trump administration has declined to comment on any negotiations with FIFA, instead focusing on the economic benefits of the event. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle stated, “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be one of the greatest and most spectacular events in the history of mankind, right here in the United States of America,” but did not address immigration policies directly.
The US regime has previously hinted at a potential ICE presence at World Cup matches. At a task force meeting last May, Vice President JD Vance noted that visitors from numerous countries would attend but emphasized compliance with visa terms, gesturing to then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem, who was fired in March, oversaw Trump’s deportation efforts and faced criticism for hardline stances, including a violent crackdown in Minnesota that resulted in civilian deaths.
Recently, ICE acting Director Todd Lyons confirmed to a House committee that his agency would be involved in World Cup security, but refused to commit to pausing operations. “ICE, specifically Homeland Security Investigations, is a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup,” Lyons said. FIFA has been aware of complaints during last year’s Club World Cup in the US, where ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents were reportedly present, though the Trump administration denied conducting enforcement at that event.
Critics question whether international fans will feel safe and welcome in the US, given the regime’s immigration policies. Infantino’s close ties to Trump—including joint public appearances, participation in Trump’s “Board of Peace” meeting in February, and awarding Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December—have sparked controversy over FIFA’s neutrality. A rights group filed a complaint with FIFA’s ethics committee, calling the prize “a clear breach of FIFA’s duty of neutrality” and highlighting concerns about the award’s selection process amid Trump’s pursuit of a Nobel Peace Prize.
Source: www.aljazeera.com