Related videos:
Human rights organizations and unions have expressed concern about the possibility of immigrant detentions at the venues of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, due to the tightening of immigration policies under President Donald Trump.
According to a report by the Associated Press (AP), concerns have intensified following the government's travel ban on 12 countries and increased surveillance by ICE and the Border Patrol, causing anxiety among immigrant communities and labor advocates.
FIFA has demanded that host cities implement human rights plans that include measures against discrimination, protection for workers —including migrants— and prevention of abuse.
However, activists accuse the organization of shifting responsibility to local committees, which in several cases have failed to submit their drafts by the established deadlines.
In South Florida, union representatives warned that "there is no guarantee that ICE will not be present at the World Cup" and reported that the organizers have not met with them to agree on protections, emphasized AP.
The incident involving a Coast Guard inspection and border agents during a previous FIFA event in Miami has heightened fears.
Concerns about migration are compounded by reports of “social cleansing” plans in certain locations, such as Atlanta and cities in California, which would involve the evictions and arrests of homeless individuals ahead of the sporting event.
According to AP, local authorities defend these actions as part of programs to expand housing and provide social services, but advocates claim they aim to conceal poverty from visitors.
The 2026 World Cup will take place in 16 venues across North America, 11 of which are in the United States. This edition will feature 48 teams and will be the largest in the tournament's history.
In July, pro-immigrant organizations and civil rights advocates demanded that FIFA ensure safety guarantees for fans at the 2026 World Cup, calling for stadiums in the United States to be free of immigration agents following reports of operations during the recent international club tournament that instilled fear and led to semi-empty stadiums.
At a press conference outside the FIFA headquarters in Miami, activists such as Yareliz Méndez from the American Friends Service Committee publicly demanded that “there be no ICE presence” at the matches, and called on the Miami mayor's office and Miami-Dade County to end the 287(g) agreements that allow local police to cooperate with immigration authorities, reported the EFE agency.
"These agreements are causing chaos, fear, and uncertainty," Méndez stated at the conference.
However, a month earlier, amidst growing tensions regarding the immigration policies of the United States, FIFA publicly downplayed the impact these could have on the Club World Cup, held in June, and the 2026 World Cup.
Frequently asked questions about the 2026 World Cup and immigration policies in the U.S.
Why is there a fear of immigrant detentions during the 2026 World Cup in the U.S.?
Fear arises from the hardening of immigration policies by Donald Trump, which include increased surveillance and ICE operations in various communities. Human rights organizations and unions have expressed concern over potential detentions of immigrants at the World Cup venues, which has created anxiety within migrant communities.
What measures has FIFA required from the host cities for the 2026 World Cup in the U.S.?
FIFA has required host cities to have human rights plans that include measures against discrimination, protection for workers—including migrants—and prevention of abuses. However, activists criticize that the responsibility has been left to local committees, who have not met the deadlines to submit their drafts.
What are the 287(g) agreements and why are they controversial in the context of the 2026 World Cup?
The 287(g) agreements allow local police to cooperate with immigration authorities, such as ICE. Activists and civil rights advocates argue that these agreements create fear and uncertainty in migrant communities, and have called for their repeal to prevent detentions during sporting events like the 2026 World Cup.
How have local authorities responded to concerns about "social cleansing" ahead of the World Cup?
Local authorities defend the actions of evicting and arresting homeless individuals as part of programs to expand housing and provide social assistance, while human rights advocates argue that these measures aim to hide poverty from the World Cup visitors.
What are the main concerns of migrant communities in the U.S. regarding the 2026 World Cup?
The main concerns include the fear of detentions by ICE, the presence of immigration operations in the stadiums, and the possibility that immigration policies might deter many Latinos from attending the games, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.
Filed under: