Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Tuesday, April 14, 2026 6:21 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, April 14, 2026 7:33 p.m.
FIFA is considering asking US President Donald Trump (79) to “freeze” the operations of the Immigration Service (ICE) in the context of this summer's World Cup.
Senior FIFA officials have discussed the possibility of asking Donald Trump to suspend immigration operations for the duration of the 2026 World Cup, according to a report in The Athletic.
The article notes that there have been internal discussions about making a request to Trump for a complete freeze on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations for the duration of the contest. The purpose of such a measure would be to minimize potential disruptions in the cities in the United States that will host matches, which will take place over a period of 39 days, according to sportal.gr.
FIFA ready to talk to Donald Trump ahead of WC 2026
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is said to be open to approaching Trump directly, with some inside the organization believing his personal relationship with the American leader could contribute to a change in policy. According to information, FIFA officials considered the scenario of a “president-to-president” request to limit ICE activity during the tournament.
Concerns about ICE's role have intensified since Trump's return to power, with fears that law enforcement operations near stadiums could affect fans and the smooth running of games.
There have also been previous reports of immigration officers around stadiums during last summer's Club World Cup, although authorities have denied they were on active duty.
