𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The policy has proved deeply contentious and sparked deeply troubling scenes, with FIFA apparently unwilling to see the image of the World Cup tarnished by violent deportations. According to the Athletic, FIFA chiefs have raised with Infantino the prospect of curtailing ICE’s presence throughout the tournament.

Infantino is understood to be open to the proposal. Executives had initially sought to keep ICE away from World Cup venues, before extending that ambition to all 11 host cities in the US. With national squads spread right across the country, officials are now said to be pushing for a complete halt to ICE raids for the entire duration of the competition.

Infantino is reported to have informed senior executives that he would ‘seek to make a president-to-president ask of Trump’. It remains unclear whether this approach has yet been made, or whether Trump and his administration would entertain such a conversation.

One proposal by FIFA suggests they could make a joint announcement with the White House to present an ICE moratorium as a favourable news story for both FIFA and the Trump administration. Given that a clampdown on illegal immigration has been a key priority and the contentious ICE raids have been employed regularly by Trump’s administration, it is far from guaranteed that they will be open to the idea.

Infantino has described this summer’s tournament as “the biggest show on the planet, the biggest show on Earth for which the world will stand still”.

“You know, we all learn at school that the world rotates around the sun, and so on, and then around itself,” he said. “Well, during the 39 days of the FIFA World Cup, the world will stand still, and everyone will be watching and focused on football or soccer.

“Sixteen fantastic host cities in these countries, that 48 teams, 48 countries will participate. They will play 104 matches in 39 days, which is basically the equivalent of, for the Americans in the room, 104 Super Bowls in a little bit more than one month,” he added.

This summer, 48 teams will compete in the World Cup for the very first time. FIFA has additionally explored the possibility of expanding to a 64-team tournament in 2030 following a formal proposal from South American leaders.

The CONMEBOL council has urged Infantino to stand for re-election as FIFA’s president following a decade at the helm. The 56-year-old has not yet announced whether he intends to seek the position once more, having nearly completed three terms in office.