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United States immigration and border agents are expected to be stationed at FIFA Club World Cup venues when the tournament begins this weekend, according to a US media report published on Wednesday.
NBC’s Miami affiliate reported that personnel from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would be present at Saturday’s opening match between Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and Egyptian club Al Ahly.
The report referenced a now-deleted social media post from CBP, which had stated agents would be deployed during the tournament’s early fixtures. “Let the games begin! The first FIFA Club World Cup games start on June 14th in Miami,” the post on X (formerly Twitter) read. “CBP will be suited and booted and ready to provide security for the first round of games.”
The news comes during heightened tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the US. ICE operations carried out in Los Angeles last week — part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing immigration clampdown — sparked protests across the city.
The NBC report did not clarify the specific duties ICE and CBP agents would carry out at the football matches, nor did it mention how many officials would be present.
When contacted by AFP, an ICE spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, however, sought to reassure fans, downplaying concerns over the deployment of federal agents at the matches.
“No, I don’t have any concerns in that sense. We are very attentive to all security matters,” Infantino said during an event in Miami. “The most important thing for us is to ensure the safety of all fans attending the games. That is our top priority — and the priority of all involved authorities. We want everyone coming to the matches to enjoy themselves.”
