Markwayn Mullin, President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is raising serious concerns about the United States’ preparations for the 2026 World Cup. The United States will co-host a summer tournament with Mexico and Canada, with the first game scheduled for Thursday, June 11, at Mexico City Stadium.
Two days later, the World Cup begins in the United States, with the United States facing Paraguay at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium. Marin suggested to lawmakers on Wednesday that authorities charged with ensuring safety at the convention were struggling. His comments came in response to a question about the partial government shutdown that has halted operations for more than a month.
Commenting on security preparations for the World Cup, Marin acknowledged that DHS is “behind the curve” and that training the new staff needed to run the summer tournament is expected to take four months.
With the World Cup starting in less than three months, there is genuine concern that the United States will not be ready by the time the tournament begins.
The main obstacle facing the security framework is believed to be the continued lack of funding in Washington. DHS departments have been effectively shut down throughout the standoff, increasing pressure on agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Concerns were already growing about Iran’s involvement due to ongoing global tensions, but Iraq asked FIFA for help ahead of a playoff match against the winner of Bolivia and Suriname.
Despite this, FIFA COO Heimo Siligi confirmed that the World Cup finals will go ahead as planned.
“At some stage there will be a solution and of course the World Cup will continue,” Sirgi said on Tuesday. “The World Cup is so big that we hope everyone who qualifies can take part.”
Iran also asked FIFA to move group stage matches away from the United States.
“Now that President Trump has made it clear that he cannot guarantee the safety of the Iranian national team, we will definitely not go to the United States. We are currently negotiating with FIFA to host Iran at the World Cup in Mexico,” IFF president Mehdi Taj said in a statement.
