Gianni Infantino weighs personal appeal to Donald Trump ahead of 2026 World Cup

April 15, 2026 Oliver Obel

FIFA is internally discussing whether to ask the Trump administration to scale back immigration enforcement during the 2026 World Cup, according to a report by The Sun, in what would mark a politically sensitive intervention ahead of the tournament.

The proposal, still informal, centres on the possibility of a temporary pause or reduction in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity around World Cup events. The aim would be to ease concerns about the impact of enforcement operations on fans, workers and participating teams.

The Sun reported that early discussions included keeping ICE agents away from the 11 U.S. host venues. Those venues span major cities across the country, including New York, Atlanta, Miami, Dallas and the San Francisco Bay Area. The report added that matches involving Iran were also part of the initial considerations.

The idea later evolved into a broader proposal, with some within FIFA suggesting that entire host cities could be treated as ICE-free zones for the duration of the tournament, according to the report.

Such a move would place football’s global governing body at the centre of a wider political debate over U.S. immigration policy, underlining the unusual intersection of sport and domestic security issues ahead of the competition.

Political backdrop and FIFA ties

The discussions come amid renewed scrutiny of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, which has drawn criticism in the past.

Trump has already played a visible role in preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the majority of matches taking place in the U.S. He was awarded FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize during the group-stage draw in December, a decision that prompted backlash.

Broader geopolitical tensions have also cast uncertainty over aspects of the tournament. Iran’s participation has been the subject of questions following the escalation of conflict after U.S. and Israeli strikes earlier this year, although no final decision has been announced.

Security concerns and possible next steps

Concerns about immigration enforcement have grown in recent months, with criticism directed at ICE operations in several U.S. cities. The Sun reported that the Department of Homeland Security reduced the scale of some activities following public backlash, while officials in parts of Europe have raised questions about how enforcement policies could affect travelling supporters.

According to the report, the most likely outcome under discussion is that Infantino would make a direct appeal to Trump to limit enforcement activity during the tournament rather than impose a formal nationwide pause.

The White House has indicated that security will be a central priority. Spokesperson Davis Ingle said the administration is committed to delivering what he described as an unprecedented level of safety for the event.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the FIFA World Cup will be one of the greatest and most spectacular events in the history of mankind, right here in the United States of America,” Ingle said.

“This event will generate billions of dollars of economic impact and bring hundreds of thousands of jobs to our country. The president is focused on making this the greatest World Cup ever while ensuring it is the safest and most secure in history.”

Sources: The Sun, White House