“The Trump administration has reportedly decided that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, commonly known as ICE, will not operate inside or around FIFA World Cup stadiums during the 2026 tournament despite growing concerns earlier this year surrounding controversial immigration enforcement at widely attended matches internationally recently.“ The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico between June and July, with 16 host cities across North America. Eleven venues are located in the United States, while Mexico will host three cities and Canada two. The United States will stage the vast majority of the tournament’s matches, hosting 78 of the 104 games, including every fixture from the quarter-finals onward as well as the final at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. Questions surrounding ICE involvement had become one of the major off-field issues ahead of the tournament following President Donald Trump beginning his second term in office last year and intensifying immigration enforcement operations across the country. ICE is responsible for enforcing immigration laws and investigating crimes including human trafficking and cross-border criminal activity.
Miami host committee says ICE will not be at stadiums
According to Rodney Barreto, co-chair of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee, assurances have now been given that ICE will not be present at stadiums during matches. Speaking to The Athletic, Barreto said he had spoken directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the issue. “ICE is not going to be at the stadium,” Barreto said. “This is not going to turn into some ‘round them up’ type of thing. That’s not the purpose of this. “It’ll be a great experience for everybody. I think that we’re lucky that we do have a president who loves sports and has given us the resources to reimburse the cities for their police protection.” Barreto added that Rubio also assured him the federal government would help process travel documentation efficiently for supporters and tournament participants arriving in the United States. “I spoke to Marco and, first of all, he’s going to make sure that the passports get processed and people can get here and there is an orderly process so people won’t be held up,” Barreto said. “It’s going to be a major undertaking by the federal government to do that. We feel very comfortable that we’re going to be in good hands.”
ICE concerns escalated earlier this year
Concerns over immigration enforcement at the World Cup had intensified after acting ICE director Todd Lyons previously stated the agency would play a “key part” in security operations surrounding the tournament. Lyons said ICE’s involvement would primarily focus on Homeland Security investigations, which is common at major international sporting events. However, labour unions, supporters’ groups and members of the US Congress later expressed fears that immigration-enforcement raids could potentially take place near stadiums or fan zones during the competition.
FILE – Fans play with a ball outside the Metlife Stadium prior to the Club World Cup final soccer match between Chelsea and PSG in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith, File)
The Athletic also reported that several FIFA member federations, particularly from Europe, privately relayed concerns from supporters to FIFA regarding possible ICE activity during the tournament. Senior FIFA officials reportedly even discussed the possibility of FIFA president Gianni Infantino personally requesting a temporary moratorium on ICE raids during the World Cup, although it remains unclear whether such a request was ultimately made to Trump. Earlier this year, New Jersey congresswoman Nellie Pou introduced proposed legislation known as the “Save the World Cup” bill, which aimed to prevent fans from being detained or removed by immigration agents within one mile of stadiums and official fan zones.
Previous incidents sparked wider criticism
The issue surrounding immigration enforcement gained further attention earlier this year following incidents in Minneapolis involving federal agents, during which two US citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, died. The incidents led to criticism directed at the Department of Homeland Security and prompted some calls for nations to boycott matches held in the United States over safety concerns.
Protesters gather during a rally for Renee Good, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Minneapolis, after she was fatally shot by an ICE officer the day before. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)
Despite those discussions, Infantino has repeatedly maintained that all 48 nations will participate in the tournament as planned, including Iran despite ongoing geopolitical tensions involving the United States. A State Department spokesperson later responded to questions from The Athletic by saying: “The safety and security of FIFA World Cup matches, athletes, fans, and venues as well as the continued safety of the United States are top priorities for the Trump Administration.”
Massive security operation planned across host cities
The scale of security and logistics surrounding the World Cup is expected to be enormous. The Trump administration recently awarded the 11 US host cities approximately $625 million (£460 million) in federal security funding ahead of the tournament. Barreto acknowledged that Trump is “very vocal with his thoughts” but described the president as “a big sports fan” whose administration had provided significant support for host cities.
From l-r., FIFA President Gianni Infantino takes a selfie with President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Miami itself will host seven World Cup matches, including four group-stage fixtures, a round-of-32 match and the tournament’s third-place playoff. As preparations continue, Miami officials have also announced a 23-day FIFA Fan Fest running from June 13 through July 5 at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. The event will be free to attend and will feature live broadcasts of tournament matches alongside musical performances across three separate stages. Barreto was speaking shortly after Miami’s host committee partnered with Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and The Children’s Trust to secure funding for a football programme aimed at blind and visually impaired children and teenagers across Miami-Dade County. Despite the reassurances over ICE presence, immigration-related complications surrounding the tournament have not entirely disappeared. As things currently stand, four of the World Cup’s 48 participating nations remain subject to US travel bans, while supporters from some countries may still face visa bond requirements of up to $15,000 per person before entering the country.
