Activists Urge FIFA to Ban Immigration Agents from Upcoming Tournaments

Coral Gables, Florida — Immigrant rights activists are calling on the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other federal agents from attending the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup games held in various U.S. cities, as well as the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

Ahead of the Club World Cup, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that its agents would be “well-equipped” to attend the games, prompting a backlash from group members.

On Monday, activists gathered outside FIFA’s offices in Coral Gables to voice their concerns. Yareliz Méndez-Zamora, one of the demonstrators, said, “We are here because we want people to feel safe at the games. We don’t want attendees to witness families being separated or to fear that immigration agents will approach their seats to ask for documents.”

The activists argue that the presence of immigration agents would create an atmosphere of fear and discourage people from enjoying the events. Their demands come amid ongoing debates around immigration enforcement in public spaces across the country.

FIFA has not publicly responded to the activists’ requests as the debate continues leading up to the tournaments.