FIFA weighs asking Trump to stop ICE raids during the World Cup: report

FIFA executives are considering asking President Donald Trump to suspend Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids during the World Cup, according to a new report.

A nationwide ICE moratorium for the duration of the 39-day tournament could be framed as a win-win for both the Trump administration and the international soccer organization, FIFA insiders told The Athletic.

The move could ease countries concerns about ICE operations during the World Cup, which kicks off in June across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico and is expected to draw more than one million international fans.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons previously signaled that the agency would serve as a “key part of the overall security apparatus” for the tournament.

Since returning to office, Trump has overseen a nationwide immigration crackdown which the Department of Homeland Security says led to the removal or departure of nearly three million undocumented immigrants in his first year. As part of this effort, ICE agents have deployed across states, resulting in the deaths of two American citizens in Minnesota in January, and sparking public protests over aggressive tactics.

The pitch: ‘FIFA Unites the World’

With less than two months until the tournament begins, senior FIFA executives have discussed with Gianni Infantino, the organization’s president, the prospect of him reaching out to Trump directly to ask for an ICE moratorium, four people with knowledge of the matter told The Athletic.

The initial plan was to ask that federal immigration agents stay clear of World Cup sites in the 11 American host cities but the proposal later expanded to include the cities themselves. And since the tournament will extend across more states — including base camps throughout the country — officials ultimately concluded that the request should call for a nationwide moratorium.

FIFA executives talked about crafting a tailored pitch for the president: that his administration and the soccer organization could jointly announce a temporary pause on immigration enforcement, framing it publicly as “a positive news story” built around the slogan “FIFA Unites the World.”

Insiders told The Athletic, owned by The New York Times, that Infantino is open to the idea and would attempt to engage the president.

Infantino, a Swiss‑Italian with a background in sports law, appears to have developed a close relationship with Trump and the pair have met on several occasions at the White House. In December, Infantino gave Trump the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize, which Trump has proudly displayed in the Oval Office.

Given this, FIFA insiders believe Infantino may be able to translate his rapport with the U.S. president into a substantial policy change. Still, it’s not clear whether Infantino has spoken to Trump, or if he plans to, The Athletic reported.

Spokespeople for FIFA and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Independent.

It’s unclear how the White House will respond to FIFA’s proposal. A month-long ICE moratorium would represent a major departure from one of the Trump administration’s core priorities and campaign promises. It could also suggest that the administration views its immigration enforcement tactics as problematic, a notion that Trump officials have largely rejected.

In February, following the deaths of Americans, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, Trump said that immigration agents “could use a little bit of a softer touch.” But, he added: “You still have to be tough.”

Last month, he said that ICE agents are “nice guys” and “great patriots that have been abused.”

When asked for comment by The Athletic, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle didn’t directly address the prospect of an ICE moratorium during the World Cup.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be one of the greatest and most spectacular events in the history of mankind, right here in the United States of America,” Ingle said. “This event will generate billions of dollars of economic impact and bring hundreds of thousands of jobs to our country. The president is focused on making this the greatest World Cup ever while ensuring it is the safest and most secure in history.”

Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA World Cup Task Force, said that the president had told him to “ensure a safe and secure World Cup.” The task force, he said, will bring together local, state and federal partners.