FIFA urged to ban ICE from World Cup stadium as statement issued

FIFA has been urged to keep US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents away from a World Cup stadium by a workers’ union.

With just 65 days until the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place across North America – in the US, Canada and Mexico – the potential presence of ICE in US stadiums is once again a concern.

The federal law enforcement agency’s role is to enforce immigration laws across the US, with agents having the power to detain undocumented migrants.

Agents have made thousands of arrests since Trump took office for a second term in January 2025, with the killings of US citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good resulting in widespread protests earlier this year.

Several notable figures have voiced their opposition to agents’ presence inside and near US World Cup stadiums, with 78 of the 104 matches taking place across 11 host cities – Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle – in the country.

In February, acting head of ICE Toddy Lyons insisted that “ICE is dedicated to ensuring that everyone who visits the facilities will have a safe and secure event”.

However, in March, Nellie Pou, a New Jersey congresswoman, introduced the ‘Save the World Cup’ bill with the intention of preventing fans from being detained and removed by agents within one mile of stadiums and fan zones.

The Los Angeles Stadium will host eight World Cup matches (Credit:Getty)

On Tuesday (7 April), it emerged that a union representing around 2,000 hospitality workers at the Los Angeles stadium – which will host eight matches – has requested that FIFA step in to stop ICE agents’ operations in the city during the tournament.

Unite Here Local 11 said that workers are still without a labour contract, with just over three months to go before the tournament commences.

The union has demanded that FIFA and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment make a public commitment to protect union jobs and working conditions, while also committing to preventing ICE and Border Patrol operations at the tournament, and provide support for affordable housing for workers.

“FIFA and its corporate sponsors will pocket billions from Los Angeles while refusing to even acknowledge the cooks, servers and stand attendants who make this event possible,” Kurt Petersen, co-president of Local 11, said in a statement.

As relayed by Al Jazeera, the union has also requested several meetings with FIFA but says it has been ignored.