Donald Trump has already given World Cup 'assurances' over ICE operations

The White House has formally pledged that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will not stage any specialized operations during this summer’s FIFA World Cup, according to organizers and federal officials who have worked directly with the Trump administration on tournament security planning.

President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly highlighted the tournament in recent public remarks, has now “given assurances” that his immigration crackdown will not spill into stadiums, fan-festival zones or transport hubs shared by the United States, Canada and Mexico when play kicks off in just over three months.

The commitment marks a reversal from December, when administration officials—including Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House’s World Cup task force—declined to rule out ICE activity in and around event sites. Giuliani told Sky News at the time that while no raids occurred during February’s Club World Cup, “the president never rules anything out when it comes to safely and securely protecting … stadiums, fan festivals, American citizens and those international visitors.”

That ambiguity triggered concern among host cities and international supporters’ groups, prompting the New York/New Jersey host committee to seek written guarantees. Committee member Alex Lasry said those guarantees have now been delivered. “We have been assured from the White House task force on down that DHS’ presence will be no different than they’ve had for the last 30 years at any sporting event,” Lasry told Front Office Sports. “You can’t put on one of these events without strong partnership between state, local and federal [forces], and what we’ve seen so far is incredible coordination between NYPD, New Jersey State Police, Secret Service and the federal government.”

The Department of Homeland Security’s footprint, Lasry added, will be limited to standard counter-terrorism and crowd-management protocols already familiar to major U.S. sporting events, with no immigration enforcement component.

The administration’s posture mirrors its approach to last month’s Super Bowl, where ICE took no public action despite heightened security in and around the host city. The decision comes amid ongoing national protests following the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis, though those incidents are unrelated to World Cup planning.

FIFA has not commented on the security arrangement, but officials close to the organizing committee say the clarity removes a potential diplomatic flashpoint with visiting nations and fan groups. Iran’s participation remains under review for unrelated reasons, though its status is not expected to affect the broader security framework now in place.

With the draw for groups looming, Trump—who was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December 2025—continues to speak regularly about the tournament, positioning it as a showcase for American hospitality. Host cities, for their part, are banking on the promised ICE stand-down to deliver the welcoming atmosphere Lasry says fans should expect: “a place where we can welcome the entire world and they’re going to have an experience they won’t ever forget.”