Advocates Urge FIFA to Keep ICE Out of U S. Stadiums Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Advocacy groups and concerned community members made a list of demands for FIFA as they fear the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement might deter some international fans from showing up to the World Cup matches in Miami next year. Sports law professor Jack Anderson from the University of Melbourne has described the prospect of FIFA fully stripping the US of hosting rights as “unlikely,” stating it would demand “an extreme turn of events.” He emphasized FIFA’s close ties with the current US administration—including the awarding of a “global peace prize” to President Trump—as a factor making drastic action improbable. "It is unlikely that FIFA – the organisation that awarded its first global peace prize to Trump – would strip the US of its hosting rights. It would likely take an extreme turn of events for that to happen." As next year’s World Cup matches near and immigration enforcement ramps up across the country, activists and advocates are calling on FIFA to take action. Thomas Kennedy, policy director at the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FIC), said the presence of immigration agents is driving fans away. The call comes after reports of ICE presence at Club World Cup matches sparked fear among fans and left stadiums nearly empty, despite a $46 million investment by the county. 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. The very real fear is betista casino that their compatriots’ identification cards could be seized, and they could end up, without a trial, in some grim ICE gulag in perpetuity. Leaders from these countries realize that they can no longer guarantee the safety of their citizens, should they attempt to enter the United States. It’s no wonder that Canada, alongside numerous European countries, have issued travel advisories for the United States.

• 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.
• 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 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."
• Dickens said the city will have an inclusive tournament "despite somebody's presence that I'm not inviting to come."
• 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.
• 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.

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. The activists directly urged FIFA to take a stand on these concerns, arguing that its international reputation is at stake. A general exterior view of the signage at Levi's Stadium, host venue for the FIFA World Cup 2026 The situation underscores the intersection of geopolitics and global sport, where FIFA’s contractual flexibility could become a focal point if tensions escalate further. Shifting games to Canada or Mexico would disrupt logistics, scheduling, and preparations.

Raids Endangering Civil Rights

"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. Although force majeure clauses exist in contracts for major sporting events, there is currently no indication that FIFA plans to strip the United States of its 2026 World Cup hosting rights. “It is unlikely that FIFA — the organization that awarded its first global peace prize to Trump — would strip the US of its hosting rights. If invoked, FIFA and the host country could legally terminate or modify the hosting agreement, including relocating matches. The US ceded its position as top destination for global travel in 2018, halfway through Trump 1.0, sliding behind countries like France and Spain in terms of international visitors. Countless soccer fans across the globe are planning on entering the United States in droves for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by North America, with games being staged in Mexico, Canada, and primarily the United States.

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

Calls for boycotts have also come from UK MPs (in non-binding motions), German soccer figures, and human rights advocates, who argue the tournament’s unifying spirit is undermined. Blatter endorsed warnings from anti-corruption experts who described the US as too dangerous for visitors amid domestic uproar and immigration crackdowns. Force majeure clauses in such contracts typically cover uncontrollable events like natural disasters, wars, riots, sanctions, or other disruptions beyond the parties’ control. Speaking in an interview with SPORTbible, a Professor of Sports Law at the University of Melbourne claimed it was 'unlikely' FIFA will exercise their termination clause, but it could happen in 'an extreme turn of events'. ICE has increased its presence in Atlanta, and a new ICE detention center is slated for construction and operation in Social Circle, Georgia, about 45 miles east of Atlanta. Eight matches will be played in Atlanta beginning in June, including five group stage matches and three from later in the tournament. A World Cup perceived as a venue for repression could tarnish not only the image of the tournament but also that of the host nation.

• Force majeure clauses in such contracts typically cover uncontrollable events like natural disasters, wars, riots, sanctions, or other disruptions beyond the parties’ control.
• A little-known FIFA contract clause could prevent ICE from being deployed at some games during the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
• There is already a major ICE field office in Atlanta, off Ted Turner Drive SW in downtown, which oversees operations in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
• If the city becomes aware that ICE is bringing in extra support, other than the two field offices already stationed in the Atlanta metro, they will alert businesses.
• A general exterior view of the signage at Levi's Stadium, host venue for the FIFA World Cup 2026
• What about fans from countries like Iran, which just qualified for the 2026 World Cup?
• And what about those from the 43 countries on Trump’s draft list of travel-banned nations?

"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 outspoken British journalist gave a scathing assessment of the football pundit.

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? Force majeure is defined as 'a contractual clause that frees parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary, uncontrollable event—such as a war, strike, riot, crime, or "act of God" (natural disaster) - prevents them from fulfilling contract terms'. According to the 2026 World Cup rulebook, FIFA have the right to '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.' Due to a contract clause, it's possible they could lose those rights if FIFA deem the situation to be serious enough. Not only were there conversations around potential boycotts, but a group of United Kingdom MPs called for the US to be kicked out of the World Cup, which they are set to host alongside Canada and Mexico.

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Self-interest alone should keep countries away from the United States like the plague. Starting now, we need to push international sports federations to put in writing how their politics and policies will change to ensure the safety of not only tourists, but the players, coaches, and their families. For many globe-trotting soccer fans, the chickens have now come home to roost. Some respond to this blithely by pointing out that FIFA stages the World Cup in autocratic countries all the time. Given that ICE is being used as a masked abduction force, and given “border czar” Tom Homan’s contempt for the courts, it is unconscionable to encourage people to visit this country. During a press conference held outside FIFA’s offices in Miami, spokespersons for several non-governmental organizations demanded guarantees of an environment free from immigration enforcement operations during the tournament. Activists are pressuring FIFA to ensure the 2026 World Cup remains free from immigration enforcement operations that could intimidate immigrant fans 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. FIFA could have the ability to revoke the United States of its hosting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if a little-known contract clause is invoked. Critics, including former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, have urged fans to “stay away” from US matches, citing safety risks and authoritarian tendencies. This stems from a combination of political controversies under the Trump administration and a specific provision in FIFA’s hosting regulations that grants the organization significant discretion over the event. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June to July 2026, faces growing speculation about whether the US could be stripped of its primary hosting role. The ongoing Club World Cup, hosted in Miami-Dade, has been marked by low turnout and growing anxiety within immigrant communities. Previous reporting in August from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution found it was one of the most active field offices in the nation, accounting for a particularly high number of arrests. There is already a major ICE field office in Atlanta, off Ted Turner Drive SW in downtown, which oversees operations in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. A spokesperson for the agency also did not provide a timeline for when more agents may be stationed there. 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. Dickens said the city will have an inclusive tournament "despite somebody's presence that I'm not inviting to come."

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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 sports federations need to do the same.