Is ICE Going to Be Present at the FIFA Club World Cup?
FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino' speaks next to the trophy during the draw for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournament, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
The FIFA Club World Cup will get underway this weekend, with Inter Miami playing against Egypt’s Al Ahly at the Hard Rock Stadium in a game set to start at 8 ET. But with the Trump Administration ramping up on ICE raids and ongoing protests occurring in major cities across the United States, one of the main questions being asked is: Are the games safe? Will ICE be present at the FIFA Club World Cup?
Simply put, yes, they will be. NBC News recently reported that ICE and Border Patrol will indeed be part of the tournament’s security teams, advising “all non-American citizens need to carry proof of their legal status.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, however, deflected concerns when the outlet asked him. “I don’t have any concerns about anything in the sense that we are very attentive on any security question, of course, the most important for us is to guarantee security for all the fans who come to the games, this is our priority,” he said. “Nobody should think they can come to a game and create problems. We want everyone to have a good time.”
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava also tried to downplay the issue. “We’re here to make sure people are safe, that’s our focus, to work with all of the law enforcement personnel, our safety personnel, and make sure they have a seamless experience,” she said, in response to a question about the federal agents being at the game.
However, immigration advocates indicate that the mere suggestion that ICE is going to be involved in the security is a deterrent for many people to attend the game, as it suggests more than the regular security measures taken for big sporting events. There have been no reports about expanded security in other stadiums that are set to host the FIFA Club World Cup, which is seen as a rehearsal for the FIFA World Cup next year. But with attendance already proving problematic, and fears making even sales of next year’s World Cup tickets sluggish, it’s clear many people are not willing to take the risk.
All of this comes after Immigration Advocate Thomas Kennedy reported that a boat transporting the Mayor, FIFA officials, and Telemundo leadership were stopped by the Coast Guard during a party to check for their immigration status.