Federal agents may patrol World Cup perimeters, raising alarm among fans and immigrants
One of the most anticipated sporting events on the planet is arriving in the United States next month — and so is a federal agency that has become one of the most polarizing in the country.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement may station its personnel at FIFA World Cup matches when the tournament opens across the U.S. in June, two Department of Homeland Security officials confirmed. The agency is offering agents and officers to local police departments and federal agencies to help secure game perimeters — a role similar to what Homeland Security has performed at the Super Bowl and the Kentucky Derby.
Whether any departments or agencies are accepting the offer remains unclear. But the officials were emphatic on one point— ICE personnel providing security will not be screening spectators or employees for immigration status.
One DHS official stated that agents and officers will provide security when asked, but will not be checking people’s immigration status, adding that whether ICE officers appear in uniform will depend on the specific location.
A DHS spokesperson said the department will work with local and federal partners to secure the 2026 FIFA World Cup in line with federal law and the U.S. Constitution, consistent with its approach to every major sporting event.
FIFA’s Biggest Stage Meets America’s Sharpest Debate
The FIFA World Cup is already the largest in the tournament’s history. With 48 teams competing across 16 cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, the event runs from June 11 through July 19. The opener takes place in Mexico City, and the final is set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Hundreds of thousands of international visitors are expected to attend.
The DHS spokesperson said international visitors who are legally present in the U.S. have nothing to worry about, and that immigration enforcement targets only those who are unlawfully in the country. The agency also encouraged visitors to prepare their travel documents in advance for smoother entry.
But a critical detail has fueled the concern— ICE personnel have not been expressly prohibited from making arrests at World Cup venues. No internal guidance has been issued instructing officers engaged in immigration enforcement to avoid FIFA stadiums.
FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
ICE’s Expanding Presence Sparks Fresh Fears
The prospect of ICE at FIFA matches is landing against a backdrop of escalating anxiety within immigrant communities. Earlier this year, ICE personnel were deployed to security lines at U.S. airports amid a shortage of TSA workers during a partial government shutdown — a move that drew sharp criticism from immigration advocacy and civil liberties organizations, who argued the presence would intimidate travelers.
ICE agents were also stationed outside graduation ceremonies at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina. Although no arrests were made, a number of recruits walked across the stage without their families present, as parents stayed away out of fear of immigration enforcement.
Trump Administration’s Crackdown Looms Over the Tournament
The tension surrounding FIFA’s U.S. debut is inseparable from the broader immigration climate. The Trump administration has spent the past year carrying out an aggressive enforcement campaign rooted in the president’s campaign promise of mass deportations. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has sought to reframe the agency’s image — emphasizing arrests of violent criminals and its humanitarian work, at one point referring to the agency with the informal nickname ‘NICE.’
Whether that rebranding effort resonates with the international visitors descending on American cities for the FIFA World Cup remains an open question. For a tournament built on global unity and the free movement of fans across borders, the shadow of immigration enforcement is an unwelcome storyline — one that tournament organizers, host cities and federal officials will be navigating in the weeks ahead.
Source: NBC News