In a matter of days, the United States will host the largest sporting event in history, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada and will attract millions of international visitors.

But is the United States ready to welcome the world?

During a video conference organized by American Community Media (ACoM), several experts spoke about the concerns they have regarding possible arrests and raids of immigrants in host cities, which is why they are calling for a truce in immigration operations.

"The Trump Administration, at least according to indirect reports, has stated that it will not conduct enforcement or enforcement actions in or around stadiums. With the Super Bowl, there was no ICE presence, and we expect something similar to occur around stadiums," said Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute.

However, he pointed out that it is not only about what happens around the stadiums, but in the cities and states where they are located.

"This is because FIFA also organized what it calls host cities and areas distributed throughout the different states; these are spaces enabled so that those people who cannot directly attend the matches have the opportunity to gather to watch the matches and celebrate as a community."

He maintained that it is not yet clear what type of control actions, if any, could also be carried out in those areas.

“This aspect is generating great excitement among local and state jurisdictions, who are trying to understand how the situation will develop.

Therefore, he said that it is to be expected that the host city committees will talk with FIFA to try to guarantee that everything happens normally.

He stated that it is unlikely that deportations or mass operations will be carried out in or near stadiums and sports venues.

"If something characterizes the World Cup, it is that it has been and continues to be the most watched event on the entire planet; consequently, the media attention that would fall on the administration if something similar happened would, in my opinion, be extremely detrimental to them on the international stage."

Although he said that it is possible that ICE will be present at the games, as it has been on previous occasions, for example, during the Super Bowls, even under Democratic administrations.

Olympic Truce

Minky Worden, director of Global Initiatives at Human Rights Watch, said that one of the proposals that Human Rights Watch has presented with the support of groups such as the Sport and Rights Alliance and Dignity 2026, is the call for a truce with ICE.

“This truce is inspired by the so-called Olympic Truce and means that, during the context of the World Cup, no raids or family separations should be carried out.”

Their biggest concern is that the event, which will be held in 11 host cities in the United States, does not become an epicenter of control and law enforcement operations by ICE.

He emphasized that hundreds of thousands of people have been detained in the United States since January 20, 2025.

"At Human Rights Watch we have interviewed people in host cities and affected communities, and we have heard some tell us: 'I don't care if they arrest me or deport me, I'm going to follow my team. I love the World Cup dearly.'"

He said that the great passion of immigrant families for the World Cup constitutes reasons for great concern.

"Several members of Congress such as Nellie Pou of New Jersey, whose district includes MetLife Stadium, have also called for a pause in ICE operations; and we have signs that FIFA has indeed taken action on the matter."

Safeguard children

Katherine La Puente, senior children's rights coordinator at Human Rights Watch, said that over the past year, along with other human rights groups, they have called on FIFA to adopt a policy to ensure that children are protected from risks that threaten their rights and safe from abuse during events.

“Some of the risks that children face in the context of major global sporting events, such as the World Cup, include human trafficking, sexual exploitation, child labour, forced separation, including family separation and displacement.”

He noted that in just the last few weeks, FIFA has taken steps to approve and develop a child safeguarding declaration as well as an overall protection policy.

“We are concerned that there is not enough time to implement all these measures and ensure that the staff responsible for organizing this World Cup are adequately trained and informed about the risks faced by children and prepared to respond to them effectively.”

He mentioned that an example of these risks became evident a few months ago, when Human Rights Watch documented and exposed the case of a father, a great soccer fan, who sought asylum and safety in the United States.

"This man had taken his two young children, ages 10 and 14, to the Club World Cup final last summer. While waiting for the match to begin, he and his children were in the stadium parking lot outside MetLife Stadium in northern New Jersey, flying a recreational drone to take a photo of him and his family.

“Sadly, he was arrested by ICE in front of his children, who cried uncontrollably as they watched their father being forcibly taken away. He was detained at the Delaney Hall Center for three months and was ultimately forced to return to his home country, where he faces persecution by the same people who forced him to flee in the first place.”

He explained that based on data provided by the Deportation Data Project, Human Rights Watch found that since January 2025, more than 167,000 people have been arrested in the 11 host cities in the United States where the World Cup will be held in a few weeks; with truly alarming figures in places like Miami, Dallas and Houston.

serious concerns

Jamal Watkins, senior vice president of strategy and development at the NAACP, one of the largest civil and human rights organizations in the United States, said that the arrival of up to 10 million visitors for the World Cup is taking place against a backdrop marked by serious concerns about workers' rights, security, immigration, public health, high costs.

"The underlying context is highly politicized and far from the scenario we would like. That is why we are promoting a comprehensive set of racial equity standards to ensure that the tournament not only remains safe, but also constitutes an inclusive environment for all players, journalists, fans and the communities that host these events."

He said they have issued a travel warning for those coming to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, warning them of the possible risks of serious human rights violations, especially considering the involvement of ICE and its history of violence.

“ICE agency officials assure that they will not carry out mass raids, but rather will carry out selective operations aimed at what they call serious offenders.”

He stressed that they want to make sure to encourage attendees to take steps to protect themselves in practical ways, such as turning off facial recognition features on their electronic devices.

"Or, inform family and friends about your travel patterns and plans, so they know where you will be, in case a crisis of extrajudicial disappearances occurs; and stay alert."