Senior officials within FIFA are considering urging its president, Gianni Infantino, to formally ask Donald Trump for a nationwide suspension of immigration enforcement raids during the 2026 World Cup in the United States.
The proposal, discussed at high levels within FIFA in recent weeks, centres on concerns that ongoing operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could disrupt the tournament atmosphere and deter international fans from attending matches across host cities.
Security Concerns and Political Context
Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has intensified immigration enforcement, with ICE conducting large-scale raids in several American cities. According to data cited by The Washington Post, ICE made roughly 1,000 arrests daily in the six weeks following a high-profile incident in January, with 42 per cent of those detained reportedly having no criminal record.
The crackdown has sparked protests and, in some cases, violent confrontations, raising questions about the potential impact of such operations during a global sporting event expected to draw millions of visitors.
ICE’s acting director, Todd Lyons, previously indicated the agency would play a “key part” in World Cup security, primarily through Homeland Security investigations. However, labour unions and U.S. lawmakers have expressed fears that enforcement activities could extend to areas around stadiums and fan zones.
FIFA’s Internal Deliberations
According to sources familiar with the discussions, FIFA executives initially explored limiting ICE’s presence around match venues in the 11 designated U.S. host cities. However, the scope of the proposal expanded to include entire cities and eventually the full duration of the 39-day tournament across all host states.
Infantino is said to be open to making a direct appeal to Trump, leveraging what insiders describe as a close working relationship between the two leaders. The FIFA president has attended multiple events alongside Trump and recently established a FIFA office in Trump Tower in New York.