According to the report, a number of FIFA member federations, particularly in Europe, have shared their concerns about the presence of ICE agents around the event.
FIFA originally believed that limiting ICE activity in the 11 American cities that will be hosting matches would suffice. However, with travel expanding well beyond those locations with teams setting up base camps across the country in cities that won’t be hosting matches, FIFA now desires a total suspension of all ICE raids during the entire World Cup, which is being held from June 11 through July 19.
Trump and Infantino have struck up a relationship which could pay off with the request being honored. FIFA has an office in New York’s Trump Tower and the organization gave the President the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December during the World Cup draw event.
According to the report, a number of FIFA member federations, particularly in Europe, have shared their concerns about the presence of ICE agents around the event.
FIFA originally believed that limiting ICE activity in the 11 American cities that will be hosting matches would suffice. However, with travel expanding well beyond those locations with teams setting up base camps across the country in cities that won’t be hosting matches, FIFA now desires a total suspension of all ICE raids during the entire World Cup, which is being held from June 11 through July 19.
Trump and Infantino have struck up a relationship which could pay off with the request being honored. FIFA has an office in New York’s Trump Tower and the organization gave the President the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December during the World Cup draw event.
Published on Apr 14, 2026
#FIFA #Trump #pause #ICE #raids #World #Cup #reports">FIFA could ask Trump to pause ICE raids during World Cup – reports
FIFA’s leadership discussed the possibility of its president, Gianni Infantino, asking United States President Donald Trump to pause ICE raids during this summer’s World Cup in North America, according to a report from The Athletic.
Infantino was receptive to the idea and was planning a “president-to-president” request to Trump for ICE’s role surrounding the World Cup to be reduced, per the report. It has not yet been reported if Infantino has formally made the request or how Trump and the U.S. administration would respond.
During Trump’s second term, ICE has raided multiple U.S. cities in an effort to deliver on the President’s message of mass deportation he campaigned on ahead of the 2024 election. In addition to deportations, these raids have led to conflicts with protestors, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti earlier this year in Minneapolis.
Acting ICE (U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) director Todd Lyons previously said agents would be involved in security at matches for this summer’s event, the largest World Cup in FIFA history with 48 teams.
Members of Congress have raised concerns about ICE’s presence surrounding the World Cup leading instead to immigration-enforcement raids. Los Angeles-based workers at SoFi Stadium — where the U.S. team will play two of its three group-stage games — threatened to strike last week over similar concerns.
According to the report, a number of FIFA member federations, particularly in Europe, have shared their concerns about the presence of ICE agents around the event.
FIFA originally believed that limiting ICE activity in the 11 American cities that will be hosting matches would suffice. However, with travel expanding well beyond those locations with teams setting up base camps across the country in cities that won’t be hosting matches, FIFA now desires a total suspension of all ICE raids during the entire World Cup, which is being held from June 11 through July 19.
Trump and Infantino have struck up a relationship which could pay off with the request being honored. FIFA has an office in New York’s Trump Tower and the organization gave the President the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December during the World Cup draw event.
#FIFA #World #Cup #Nando #Pijnaker #dislocates #shoulder #major #injury #scare #Zealand">FIFA World Cup 2026: Nando Pijnaker dislocates shoulder in major injury scare for New Zealand
New Zealand defender Nando Pijnaker is in a race to be fit for the World Cup after suffering a dislocated shoulder in Auckland FC’s 2-2 draw with Melbourne Victory in the A-League over the weekend.
Pijnaker was expected to be among the centre-backs named in coach Darren Bazeley’s World Cup squad for the June 11 to July 19 finals in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Auckland FC confirmed Pijnaker’s injury on Tuesday but said in a statement that the Netherlands-born 27-year-old would seek further opinion from a specialist. Dislocated shoulders can take up to 16 weeks to heal. New Zealand opens its World Cup campaign against Iran on June 15.
Pijnaker joins injured New Zealand defenders Michael Boxall, Tommy Smith, Liberato Cacace and Francis de Vries on the sidelines, while midfielder Sarpreet Singh is also nursing a knee problem.
There was also better news for Bazeley over the weekend as Chris Wood, New Zealand’s captain and top goal-scorer, played his first match in nearly six months in Nottingham Forest’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Aston Villa after recovering from knee surgery.
New Zealand will also play Egypt and Belgium in the World Cup’s group stage as the All Whites return to the tournament for the first time since South Africa 2010.
Ticket prices for the 104 matches — to be played from June 11-July 19 across 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada — have been a major source of discussion among fans.
In early March, FIFA raised its top ticket price for the World Cup final to $10,990 during the glitch-hampered reopening of sales. The price had been $8,680 when FIFA sold tickets after the tournament draw in December.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino repeatedly has said that all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup will be sold out. After initial backlash from fans over exorbitant costs, a “supporters-tier” category of tickets was added in December.
Ticket prices for the 104 matches — to be played from June 11-July 19 across 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada — have been a major source of discussion among fans.
In early March, FIFA raised its top ticket price for the World Cup final to $10,990 during the glitch-hampered reopening of sales. The price had been $8,680 when FIFA sold tickets after the tournament draw in December.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino repeatedly has said that all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup will be sold out. After initial backlash from fans over exorbitant costs, a “supporters-tier” category of tickets was added in December.
Published on Apr 10, 2026
#FIFAs #latest #World #Cup #ticket #category #crosses #seat">FIFA’s latest World Cup ticket category crosses $4000 per seat
It just got more expensive to sit in prime seats at the 2026 World Cup.
Already facing backlash for ticket prices, FIFA has added “front category” admission to its sales website. What FIFA is calling a front category 1 seat to see the United States play Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California, is available for $4,105.
Earlier the top price for a category 1 ticket was $2,735. These tickets have been topped by the new ticket class.
There also is a new front category 2 tier, with tickets going for up to $2,330, for the U.S. opener.
Canada’s opening-round match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto also has undergone an upgrade to availability with the addition of front category 1 tickets, selling for as much as $3,360.
Ticket prices for the 104 matches — to be played from June 11-July 19 across 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada — have been a major source of discussion among fans.
In early March, FIFA raised its top ticket price for the World Cup final to $10,990 during the glitch-hampered reopening of sales. The price had been $8,680 when FIFA sold tickets after the tournament draw in December.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino repeatedly has said that all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup will be sold out. After initial backlash from fans over exorbitant costs, a “supporters-tier” category of tickets was added in December.
For round of 16 games, it added $905 (INR) seats in Philadelphia.
FIFA last week raised its top ticket price for the World Cup final to $10,990 (INR 10.18 lakh) during the glitch-hampered reopening of sales. The price had been $8,680 (INR 8.05 lakh) when FIFA sold tickets after the tournament draw in December.
FIFA’s category 2 tickets for the July 19 game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, were $7,380 (INR 6.84 lakh), up from $5,575 (INR 5.17 lakh), and category 3 cost $5,785 (INR 5.36 lakh), an increase from $4,185 (INR 3.88 lakh).
No tickets appeared to be available for the final on Thursday on FIFA’s ticket site.
For round of 16 games, it added $905 (INR) seats in Philadelphia.
FIFA last week raised its top ticket price for the World Cup final to $10,990 (INR 10.18 lakh) during the glitch-hampered reopening of sales. The price had been $8,680 (INR 8.05 lakh) when FIFA sold tickets after the tournament draw in December.
FIFA’s category 2 tickets for the July 19 game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, were $7,380 (INR 6.84 lakh), up from $5,575 (INR 5.17 lakh), and category 3 cost $5,785 (INR 5.36 lakh), an increase from $4,185 (INR 3.88 lakh).
No tickets appeared to be available for the final on Thursday on FIFA’s ticket site.
Published on Apr 10, 2026
#FIFA #adds #expensive #World #Cup #ticket #categories">FIFA adds new even more expensive World Cup ticket categories
FIFA added new, even more expensive tiers of tickets for this year’s World Cup, asking up to $4,105 (INR 3.80 lakh) for a front category 1 seat at the U.S. opener against Paraguay in Inglewood, California, on June 12.
Last week, FIFA had asked for a top price of $2,735 (INR 2.54 lakh) for category 1 tickets for the match but added new “front category” pricing.
FIFA also added a front category 2 tier to its ticket sales website without public announcement, asking $1,940 (INR 1.80 lakh) to $2,330 (INR 2.16 lakh) for those tickets for the U.S. opener. The new categories were first reported Thursday by The Athletic.
The World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19 in 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Football’s governing body had, in its September 9 “ticket products and categories” information, called category 1 “the highest-priced seats, located primarily in the lower tier”, but appears to have withheld some seats from that category. It had labelled category 2 as “positioned outside of category 1 areas, available in both lower and upper tiers.” FIFA did not respond to an email sent to its media office seeking comment.
FIFA added seats at up to $3,360 (INR 3.11 lakh) in the front category 1 for Canada’s opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto.
For round of 16 games, it added $905 (INR) seats in Philadelphia.
FIFA last week raised its top ticket price for the World Cup final to $10,990 (INR 10.18 lakh) during the glitch-hampered reopening of sales. The price had been $8,680 (INR 8.05 lakh) when FIFA sold tickets after the tournament draw in December.
FIFA’s category 2 tickets for the July 19 game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, were $7,380 (INR 6.84 lakh), up from $5,575 (INR 5.17 lakh), and category 3 cost $5,785 (INR 5.36 lakh), an increase from $4,185 (INR 3.88 lakh).
No tickets appeared to be available for the final on Thursday on FIFA’s ticket site.
#FIFA #World #Cup #SoFi #Stadium #workers #request #ban #ICE #tournament #threaten #strike">FIFA World Cup 2026 — SoFi Stadium workers request ban of ICE from tournament, threaten strike otherwise
A union representing about 2,000 food service workers at SoFi Stadium said on Monday it was demanding that FIFA keep U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement away from World Cup operations in Los Angeles and warned workers could strike if their concerns are not addressed.
Unite Here Local 11, which represents cooks, servers and bartenders at the Inglewood venue, said the workers remain without a labour contract as the World Cup approaches.
The union laid out three main demands to FIFA and stadium owner Kroenke Sports & Entertainment: a public commitment that ICE and Border Patrol will play no role in the tournament, protections for union jobs and working conditions, and support for affordable housing for hospitality workers.
Acting Department of Homeland Security Director Todd Lyons has said that ICE would play a “key part” in the World Cup, a prospect the union said threatened worker and guest safety in Los Angeles.
FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Representatives from SoFi Stadium declined to comment.
Local 11 said it also wanted assurances that artificial intelligence and automation would not be used during the tournament to eliminate union jobs.
The union linked its labour demands to broader concerns over housing costs in the Los Angeles area, particularly in Inglewood, and called for support for a workforce housing fund, restrictions on short-term rentals and tax measures aimed at funding affordable housing and immigrant family protections.
“FIFA and its corporate sponsors will pocket billions from Los Angeles while refusing to even acknowledge the cooks, servers, and stand attendants who make this event possible,” Kurt Petersen, co-president of Local 11, said in a statement.
The union said it had repeatedly sought meetings with FIFA since Los Angeles was chosen as a host city, but had been ignored. Los Angeles is set to host eight World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium, the first being the U.S. against Paraguay on June 12.
