With the U.S. set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, immigrant and civil rights advocates are urging FIFA and Miami-Dade officials to ensure that stadiums remain safe, inclusive spaces—free from immigration enforcement. The call comes after reports of ICE presence at Club World Cup matches sparked fear among fans and left stadiums nearly empty, despite a $46 million investment by the county.

RELATED:

Trump Tightens U.S. Embargo on Cuba and Bans American Tourism, Reversing Biden’s Policy

On Monday, a coalition of rights organizations gathered outside FIFA’s U.S. headquarters in Coral Gables to demand a clear commitment: no ICE agents at football matches. The ongoing Club World Cup, hosted in Miami-Dade, has been marked by low turnout and growing anxiety within immigrant communities.

“People come to watch football, not detention centers like ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’” said Yareliz Méndez, policy coordinator with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), referring to the new immigration detention facility being built in the Everglades. “Our demand to FIFA is simple: No ICE at the games.”

Méndez also called on Miami-Dade authorities to withdraw from newly approved 287(g) agreements, which allow local police to collaborate with federal immigration enforcement. “These programs are causing chaos, fear, and uncertainty across our communities,” she added.

Thomas Kennedy, policy director at the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FIC), said the presence of immigration agents is driving fans away. “Some tickets are selling for under four dollars, and the stadiums are still empty,” he noted. “It’s a direct result of fear.”

Attorney Will Mann of the Community Justice Project warned that the 287(g) program turns local law enforcement into extensions of ICE. “It’s extremely dangerous when residents live with the constant threat of detention for engaging in everyday life,” he said.

Looking ahead to 2026, Mann added: “If this climate continues, the World Cup will become a humanitarian crisis and a global scandal.”

Advocates criticized Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava for remaining silent on the issue, despite being part of the organizing committee. “If she hasn’t spoken up, that’s a failure of leadership,” said Méndez.

They also denounced the $195 million construction of the new detention center in the Everglades—nicknamed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’—a project backed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. President Donald Trump is expected to visit the site on Tuesday, and activists announced plans to protest during his visit.

“This World Cup must not become a place of fear and detention,” said Paul Christian Namphy of Family Action Network Movement (FANM). “It should be a celebration of global unity where fans and workers alike feel respected and safe.”

Filmmaker Billy Corben, who joined the press conference in solidarity with the groups, offered a stark warning: “Protect your fans. Don’t let ICE into the stadiums. If you do, you’ll lose money, your reputation, and the very spirit of the game.”

As preparations continue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, rights advocates are sounding the alarm. For them, ensuring that immigrant communities can participate without fear is not just a moral imperative—it’s a condition for the success and integrity of the tournament itself.

IN THIS ARTICLE