With ICE Out of Control, How Can the US Cohost the 2026 World Cup?

Now, imagine what could happen to fans from the Middle East. The price for wanting to visit the US has meant having your electronics searched, your politics interrogated, or getting strip-searched and left naked in a back room at Logan Airport. But as we’ve seen recently, the treatment of people as they are entering this country has borne more resemblance to airports in Tel Aviv or Pinochet’s Chile than those in a democratic country.

FIFA Contract Clause Could Scupper Plans for ICE at World Cup

“We are literally vested and invested in this event, and FIFA is an international organization and international community holding an international event,” Billy Corben said. “We don’t want for people to be sitting at these games and watching family be separated, wondering whether or not ICE is gonna come to their seat in the stands and ask them for their papers.” “We want people to feel safe going to their games,” Yareliz Mendez-Zamora said. The arbitrary arrests and killings committed by agents of Trump’s authoritarian-style rule differ only in number, not in kind, from those in Iran. Attend matches in Mexico and Canada instead, and send the message that you refuse to support neofascist sportswashing.
The United States has faced criticism over its military action in Venezuela, while Trump’s threats against Iran and Greenland have also received international condemnation. In just over four months’ time, the United States, Canada and Mexico will jointly host the greatest competition in world football, with 48 nations taking part in a newly-expanded format. A little-known FIFA contract clause could prevent ICE from being deployed at some games during the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

• The price for wanting to visit the US has meant having your electronics searched, your politics interrogated, or getting strip-searched and left naked in a back room at Logan Airport.
• “It is unlikely that FIFA — the organization that awarded its first global peace prize to Trump — would strip the US of its hosting rights.
• “This World Cup must not become a place of fear and detention,” said Paul Christian Namphy of Family Action Network Movement (FANM).
• There is still a possibility that FIFA could strip the United States of America of the privilege of hosting this summer’s World Cup due to Donald Trump’s actions.
• In just over four months’ time, the United States, Canada and Mexico will jointly host the greatest competition in world football, with 48 nations taking part in a newly-expanded format.
• Despite this, it is unlikely that this will happen, given the US’s influence in international sports and the fact that it is a co-host country.
• If we continue acting like a pariah nation and a rogue state, then the rest of the world should act accordingly by boycotting World Cup matches taking place in the US.

It’s not just global soccer fans tuned in to the US’s recent depravities who are harboring serious concerns. What about fans from countries like Iran, which just qualified for the 2026 World Cup? “It should be a celebration of global unity where fans and workers alike feel respected and safe.” “We hope that their presence will be small, unnoticeable, negligible, invisible — and maybe nonexistent.”

• But this summer, millions of people from around the world will be coming to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and many have raised concerns about ICE presence at matches in U.S. cities.
• Canadian outlet National Observer report that an agreement between FIFA and Vancouver contains a clause that requires the host city to cooperate with the host country’s police and military forces to provide security.
• At the end of January, ICE confirmed a new field office would soon be operating in College Park, but a specific location was not disclosed.
• “As Atlanta steps onto the global stage, we are focused on making sure our entrepreneurs have access to the tools, information, and partnerships they need to succeed, during these major events and well beyond them.”
• Dickens said the city will have an inclusive tournament “despite somebody’s presence that I’m not inviting to come.”

‘Protect your fans’: Advocates call for FIFA to keep ICE away from World Cup games

The expert continued to say that ‘under the contracts in place, FIFA has broad powers to unilaterally terminate the arrangement with the host country and city.’ The Netherlands, England, Germany, among other countries, may think twice about boycott plans after a little-known rule has emerged. There is still a possibility that FIFA could strip the United States of America of the privilege of hosting this summer’s World Cup due to Donald Trump’s actions. “Under the contracts in place, FIFA has broad powers to unilaterally terminate the arrangement with the host country and city, but it would take an ‘extraordinary’ justification,” These events have fueled debate over whether FIFA should reconsider the US as host. In January 2026, a total of 23 UK MPs signed a motion calling for international sporting organizations to rethink US involvement in major events, such as the World Cup.

Different activist groups expressed concern about the agency’s operations and their potential impact on the tournament

Canadian outlet National Observer report that an agreement between FIFA and Vancouver contains a clause that requires the host city to cooperate with the host country’s police and military forces to provide security. The Miami-Dade County Sheriff said two weeks ago they would not be doing immigration enforcement during the World Cup and that their only role would be focused on safety and security. “The World Cup is a global event. If FIFA does not act now, the world will remember Miami not for the game-winning goals, but for raids, fear and family separation.” Questions were raised about ICE and Customs and Border Patrol agents at World Cup games earlier this month when the Club World Cup kicked off at Hard Rock Stadium.

Controversies Under Trump

Trump then alienated many nations set to compete in the biggest international tournament with his travel ban list, attempted purchase of Greenland, and threats of tariffs against European nations. “Cancel, reschedule or relocate one or more matches (or the entire FIFA World Cup 26) for any reason at its sole discretion, including as a result of force majeure or due to health, safety or security concerns.” Preparations are already underway, with organizers establishing infrastructure and logistics in the host cities.

“The Nation” Nominates Minneapolis for the Nobel Peace Prize

Miami is one of 16 cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico that will be hosting the soccer World Cup in June and July of next year. “We want the games to be safe, to be welcoming, we want the games to be a point of pride to our city, not another global embarrassment,” Thomas Kennedy said. People in this country do seem to be waking up to what we have become—now international betista casino sports federations need to do the same.
We want a World Cup without fear, without raids, and without violations of human rights,” Méndez stated. “Fans come to watch soccer stars, not to run into ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’” declared one spokesperson, making an ironic reference to the immigration detention center in the Everglades, which remains heavily criticized by human rights groups. No official FIFA action has been taken to alter US hosting as of early February 2026. The US hosts the majority of matches (including the final) across 11 cities, with massive economic stakes—billions in revenue for FIFA, cities, and sponsors.

Miami

“As Atlanta steps onto the global stage, we are focused on making sure our entrepreneurs have access to the tools, information, and partnerships they need to succeed, during these major events and well beyond them.” On Feb. 3, Dickens and the City of Atlanta announced coordinated resources for small businesses to help during “major global events,” notably the World Cup. But this summer, millions of people from around the world will be coming to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and many have raised concerns about ICE presence at matches in U.S. cities. The spotlight is on the United States as tensions continue to rise over immigration enforcement operations.
The country has proven itself incapable of not abducting and imprisoning people entering it—boycotting US matches avoids putting teams, their families, and fans in danger. We want World Cup events to be held in Miami, but we also want Miami-Dade and FIFA officials to speak out and defend fans when ICE/CBP are quoted saying fans should bring proof of legal status to the games. Méndez also called on Miami-Dade authorities to withdraw from newly approved 287(g) agreements, which allow local police to collaborate with federal immigration enforcement. Yareliz Méndez, policy coordinator at the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), was emphatic in calling on Miami’s local government to end any cooperation with immigration authorities in the context of sporting events.
Canadian outlet CTV report that Pete Fry of the Green Party and Sean Orr of COPE are set to present a motion calling for ICE agents to be banned from joining the US national team if they play matches on Canadian soil this summer. The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both of whom were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis this year, have sparked debate over the role of ICE under Trump and the safety of fans this summer. But it is perhaps the widespread deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the US that has caused the most concern for football fans ahead of the tournament. Days before, the CBP posted on social media, “CBP will be suited and ready to provide security for the first round of games.” The post was later removed.
For them, ensuring that immigrant communities can participate without fear is not just a moral imperative—it’s a condition for the success and integrity of the tournament itself. As preparations continue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, rights advocates are sounding the alarm. “This World Cup must not become a place of fear and detention,” said Paul Christian Namphy of Family Action Network Movement (FANM). Attorney Will Mann of the Community Justice Project warned that the 287(g) program turns local law enforcement into extensions of ICE. “These programs are causing chaos, fear, and uncertainty across our communities,” she added.
Trump recently stoked tensions around ICE on Wednesday, threatening five more unnamed US cities with the deployment of agents. It is believed that Canada’s other host city Toronto has an identical agreement with FIFA as Vancouver. However, the provision only applies to Canadian police and defence forces, not those of the US or Mexico. However, a FIFA contract clause could prevent ICE agents from being deployed in neighbouring Canada and Mexico during the World Cup. The US Department of Homeland Security has previously stated the purpose of ICE agents at the 2026 Olympics is to “vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organisations” as well provide security for US officials. Now, Canadian officials are pushing to ban ICE from local World Cup events later this year.
Civil rights advocates demand FIFA ban ICE from football venues in the U.S., warning that immigration enforcement is scaring away fans, harming attendance, and threatening the reputation of the 2026 World Cup. They warned that the presence of immigration enforcement at stadiums would turn the atmosphere of the tournament into one of surveillance and fear. The activists pointed to recent reports of federal agents being present at Club World Cup matches, a situation they say has discouraged many fans — especially immigrants — from attending games.
The task force is housed in the Department of Homeland Security, with Trump serving as the chair (and Vice President JD Vance as vice chair), presumably during his time off from running the Kennedy Center and tanking the economy. The US’s “market share” of global travel has shriveled, falling from 12.8 percent in 2015 to 9.1 percent today. And what about those from the 43 countries on Trump’s draft list of travel-banned nations?