Trump administration won't rule out immigration raids during 2026 World Cup

The Trump administration made clear this week that it will not suspend immigration enforcement during the 2026 World Cup, even as the tournament prepares to welcome hundreds of thousands of international visitors to American soil. Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House task force overseeing the event, stated flatly that President Trump "does not rule out anything that makes this country safer." Speaking at a press conference in Washington ahead of Friday's group-stage draw at the Kennedy Center, Giuliani framed the question of enforcement not as a matter of hospitality or international relations, but as one of national security. "What we will not tolerate are riots that threaten safety," he said, insisting that the World Cup would prove "security and hospitality can walk side by side."

The tournament, scheduled for June 11 through July 19, 2026, will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It arrives at a moment when Trump's immigration policies have become increasingly restrictive. When asked whether the administration might deny visas to people seeking to attend matches, Giuliani responded that for the U.S. government, "every visa decision is a national security decision." He did acknowledge one concession: anyone holding a ticket to a World Cup match has been guaranteed access to immigration authorities to attempt to obtain a visa—a commitment Trump and FIFA announced recently. Consular wait times for visas in countries like Argentina, Ecuador, and Brazil have been reduced to less than two months, Giuliani noted, and European nations and Japan have visa exemptions.

The situation grows more complicated for citizens of countries on the Trump administration's travel ban list. Haiti and Iran are both participating in the 2026 World Cup and both appear on a list of 19 nations whose citizens are prohibited from entering the United States by executive order. Giuliani acknowledged that "some members" of both teams have received exemptions allowing them entry. For Haitian and Iranian fans wishing to attend games, he deferred to the State Department, which handles visa issuance.

The administration's stance has alarmed human rights advocates. Human Rights Watch released a statement this week expressing deep concern about the safety of foreign visitors attending the tournament. The organization cited a concrete case: an asylum seeker who brought his children to the Club World Cup final in New Jersey in July was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He spent three months in custody before being deported to a country where, according to his account, his life is in danger. "A father passionate about football who planned a special day with his children at a FIFA tournament ended up detained for three months and then sent to a country where, he says, his life is at risk," said Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch.

Worden argued that this case "illustrates the limitations of FIFA's efforts to address the serious human rights risks that foreigners face at FIFA events." She warned that American immigration enforcement policy at major sporting events "can separate families and expose people fleeing persecution to mortal danger." Human Rights Watch is calling on FIFA to pressure U.S. authorities to refrain from using the World Cup as an enforcement opportunity, as they did during this year's Club World Cup. The organization has also criticized FIFA itself for failing to adequately protect international visitors from immigration enforcement actions.

The tension is now explicit: the World Cup is meant to be a celebration of global sport, a moment when borders theoretically soften and people from everywhere gather in one place. Yet it will unfold under an administration that has made immigration enforcement a centerpiece of its governing philosophy. Giuliani's insistence that security and hospitality can coexist will be tested in real time, starting in less than seven months, when the first matches kick off.