CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Immigrant activists say they’ve been asking FIFA for a meeting to discuss concerns ahead of the 2026 World Cup games to be played in Miami, but haven’t heard back.
“I’m not going to eat the story that they’re powerless,” said Yareliz Mendez Zamora with the American Friends Service Committee. “They have the ability, they have the money, they have the power, they need to move”
5 p.m. report:
On Thursday, those activists spoke out outside the FIFA offices in Coral Gables.
“FIFA is literally the most powerful sports organization in the world,” said Jason Walker with the Family Action Network Movement.
They’re calling on FIFA to keep federal agents out of World Cup soccer matches in Miami, blocking Immigration and Customs Enforcement from the games.
“It can be done,” said Walker. “Also, these events are private, and under the Constitution, these entrances, unless there’s a specific warrant, should not be happening.”
Questions over ICE enforcement surged earlier this week when the NFL announced global superstar Bad Bunny would headline the Super Bowl halftime show next year.
The Puerto Rican artist did not include the mainland U.S. in his world tour, telling a publication that the possibility of ICE being outside his concert was something he was very concerned about.
The Department of Homeland Security responded, stressing they will be there, both at the Super Bowl and at the World Cup.
DHS told Local 10 News that it’s “committed to working with local and federal partners to ensure the 2026 FIFA World Cup is safe for everyone involved, as we do with every major sporting event, including the Super Bowl,” while adding, “International visitors who legally come to the U.S. for the World Cup have nothing to worry about. What makes someone a target for immigration enforcement is whether or not they are illegally in the U.S.— full stop.”
Activists are stressing that if ICE will be there, FIFA will suffer the consequences.
“I think a lot of people won’t (show up),” said immigration activist Thomas Kennedy. “That might give pause to some people to say maybe I’ll just go watch the game in Canada and Mexico and I’m going to avoid the games in the United States right now.”
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