FIFA has made a request to US President Donald Trump ahead of this summer’s World Cup, which will be held in the US, Canada and Mexico.
FIFA officials want to make a request to US President Donald Trump (Image: Salwan Georges/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
FIFA executives are calling on Gianni Infantino to use his friendship with Donald Trump to freeze ICE raids during the World Cup. This summer’s tournaments will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and there is a possibility that soccer’s governing body may make a direct request.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been at the center of clashes with protesters seeking to fulfill President Trump’s promise of mass deportations. American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretty were killed during a crackdown by investigators in Minnesota this year.
The policy has caused controversy and unpleasant scenes, and FIFA appears reluctant to portray the World Cup as linked to violent deportations. According to The Athletic, FIFA leaders have raised the possibility of restricting ICE’s participation during the tournament to Infantino.
Infantino is said to be open to the idea. Executives initially wanted to keep ICE away from World Cup venues, but it has since been expanded to cover all 11 U.S. cities. Because the national team is based around the country, it is claimed that officials want to completely suspend ICE raids during the tournament.
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Infantino is said to have told executives, “I would like to make a presidential request to President Trump.” It is unclear whether this request was made or whether President Trump and his administration are open to such discussions.
One of FIFA’s proposals suggests it could make a joint announcement with the White House to frame the ICE suspension as positive news for both FIFA and the Trump administration. Their acceptance is by no means certain, given that cracking down on illegal immigration is a priority and controversial ICE raids are regularly used by the Trump administration.
Infantino described this summer’s tournament as “the greatest show on earth, the greatest show on earth where the world stands still.”
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Peace Prize to President Donald Trump (Image: Associated Press)
“You know, we all learn in school that the world revolves around the sun and then around itself,” he said. “During the 39 days of the FIFA World Cup, the world will stand still and everyone’s attention and focus will be on football and soccer.”
“We’ll have 48 teams and 48 countries in 16 great host cities in these countries. There will be 104 games played over 39 days. That’s basically the equivalent of 104 Super Bowls in just over a month for the Americans in this room,” he added.
This summer, 48 teams will compete in the World Cup for the first time. FIFA also discussed the possibility of expanding the tournament to 64 teams in 2030, after receiving a formal proposal from South American leaders.
The CONMEBOL Council called for Infantino to be re-elected as FIFA president after 10 years in power. The 56-year-old has yet to announce his intention to run again, despite nearly completing his third term.
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