Top FIFA officials have asked the entity's president, Gianni Infantino, to ask President Donald Trump to consider announcing a moratorium on ICE raids in the U.S. during the World Cup, according to a new report. They believe that Infantino's close relationship with Trump could be used as leverage to get the concession.
The Athletic detailed that questions about the agency's role in the World Cup have been present in the soccer body since Trump won the 2024 elections, with ICE acting director Todd Lyons previously saying it would play a "key part" in ensuring security during the event.
While he said the involvement would revolve around aiding Homeland Security Investigations, officials have raised concerns about the possibility that agents could also conduct immigration-enforcement raids close to World Cup events.
In fact, FIFA authorities were told about complaints during the Club World Cup last summer, including alleged sightings of Customs and Border Protection and ICE officials at stadiums. Trump officials have rejected the allegations, with a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson calling it "another case of fear-mongering."
Elsewhere in the report, The Athletic noted that conversations initially revolved around keeping ICE away from venues but have since evolved to encompass all cities involved in the World Cup. Infantino appeared to be receptive to the possibility of making the plea. It is not known whether he has.
Organizations are advising fans to be careful nonetheless. Amnesty International released a report last month claiming that the event could carry risks not only for fans, but also for players, journalists, workers and local communities.
The entity said all three countries are experiencing crises that threaten human rights in different ways. In the United States, the emergency cited by the organization stems from the immigration crackdown launched by the Trump administration last year, adding that such policies reflect a "recognizable pattern of authoritarian practices."
"Armed agents are breaking down doors, detaining children and have deported hundreds of thousands of people. LGBTQI+ fan groups say it is not safe to have a visible presence, and supporters of four qualifying countries are barred from entering the country," the report reads, referring to fans from Ivory Coast, Haiti, Iran and Senegal, countries that count with travel bans.
In Mexico's case, the concerns are centered on violence. The watchdog highlights that the Mexican government has mobilized 100,000 security personnel, including the military, to guarantee the safety of fans during the event.
In Canada's case, Amnesty International warns that experiences during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, along with the country's growing housing crisis, could lead to the displacement of people experiencing homelessness.
