World Cup fans may see ICE agents at every U.S. stadium this summer

Acting director testifies before Congress

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons told the House Homeland Security Committee on Feb. 11 that Homeland Security Investigations will play a central role in World Cup security.

Rep. Nellie Pou, a Democrat from New Jersey whose district includes MetLife Stadium, asked whether ICE would pause enforcement operations around matches and FIFA events. Lyons did not make that commitment.

His testimony came as Congress has already set aside $625 million for tournament security across 11 host cities.

Lyons pledged safety but gave few details

Lyons told lawmakers that ICE is “dedicated to securing that operation” and protecting all participants and visitors.

When Pou pressed him, he repeated that his agency would ensure everyone at the venues has a safe and secure event. But he stopped short of specifics.

He did not say how many officers would be present, what their role at venues would look like, or whether enforcement operations would take place near tournament sites.

HSI and deportation officers have different jobs

Lyons made clear he was talking about Homeland Security Investigations, not the branch of ICE that handles deportations.

HSI is the investigative arm of the agency, focused on criminal work like counterterrorism intelligence, visa security, human trafficking, financial crimes, and cross-border threats.

Enforcement and Removal Operations, or ERO, is the separate division responsible for deportations and detention. The distinction matters because the two divisions carry out very different missions on the ground.

HSI has secured major events before

HSI regularly supports security at big sporting events.

At Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans in February 2025, the Department of Homeland Security deployed more than 690 personnel, with HSI coordinating federal agencies on the ground.

Agents provided tactical support inside the stadium, counterterrorism help, and investigations into counterfeit merchandise and human trafficking.

HSI has played similar roles at multiple previous Super Bowls. Agents also deployed to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan to support security there.

Congress approved $625 million for security

Congress set aside $625 million through the FIFA World Cup Grant Program, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. FEMA runs the program, which funds the 11 U.S. host cities.

The money covers training, background checks, cybersecurity, police overtime, emergency response, and counter-drone measures.

It also supports security at venues, hotels, transportation hubs, fan zones, and other infrastructure. Sen. John Cornyn said about $100 million of those funds would go to Texas, covering Dallas and Houston.

The largest World Cup ever starts in June

The tournament runs June 11 through July 19 across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It will feature 48 teams and 104 matches, making it the largest World Cup ever held.

The United States hosts 78 of those games. The 11 U.S. host cities are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle.

Organizers expect about 5 million international visitors over the course of the event.

MetLife Stadium hosts the World Cup final

The World Cup final takes place July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The stadium will host eight tournament matches total, including the championship game.

MetLife sits in Pou’s district, which is why she pressed Lyons on ICE’s plans.

The New York/New Jersey region expects about 1.2 million visitors during the tournament and an estimated $3 billion in economic activity.

Those numbers help explain the intensity of the debate over security and enforcement.

Pou warned visitor confidence is falling

Pou told Lyons that “visitors’ confidence is plummeting and jeopardizing the World Cup.”

She asked whether he understood that fans who fear being wrongfully detained would stay away, hurting the entire process. Without assurances, she said, local communities and the country’s reputation would suffer.

Pou serves as the top Democrat on the House Task Force overseeing World Cup security. She has also raised concerns about how the $625 million in security funds gets distributed among host cities.

White House has not ruled out operations

Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House’s 2026 World Cup Task Force, faced the same question in December. He said the president does not rule out anything that would help keep American citizens safer.

Giuliani has also called hosting the World Cup during the nation’s 250th anniversary a tremendous privilege. The White House created the task force by executive order to help plan and carry out the tournament.

So far, no official policy on enforcement near venues has emerged.

ICE presence at Winter Olympics drew protests

HSI agents deployed to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, and their presence sparked street protests. Milan’s mayor spoke out against the agents being in his city.

The U.S. Embassy said HSI’s role would be strictly advisory and intelligence-based, with no patrolling or enforcement on the ground.

Italy’s Interior Ministry said the officers would work from a control room at the U.S. Consulate in Milan. The backlash added to broader concerns about American law enforcement at international sporting events.

European groups raised boycott concerns

Several European fan groups and politicians have raised concerns about traveling to the United States for the tournament.

In the Netherlands, an online petition calling for the Dutch team to boycott gathered more than 150,000 signatures.

A vice president of the German Football Association called for a serious discussion about sitting out the event. Germany’s federation officially ruled out a boycott, saying it believes in the unifying power of sport.

No major national team has committed to boycotting.

Security planning continues with four months left

Security planning for the World Cup involves federal, state, local, and international agencies under the Department of Homeland Security.

DHS has designated the 78 U.S.-based matches as high-level security events that need extensive federal support. Further details about ICE’s specific role during the tournament have not been made public.

Host cities are now finalizing their security preparations.

How visible federal enforcement is around venues may shape how international visitors experience the event when it kicks off in June.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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