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Can tourists be detained at the World Cup?

Can tourists be detained at the World Cup?
Photo by ZUMA Press, ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy

The 2026 World Cup will be here before we know it, and while excitement is building for many football fans across the world, there are also a fair share of supporters who are concerned about safety at the tournament.

Safety concerns among matchgoing supporters cover a wide breadth of issues, from firearms and drug cartels to the presence of ICE agents and what they are capable of. It's fair to say it hasn't been the build-up FIFA were anticipating.

In this article, we will be taking a closer look at the risk of detainment for overseas fans at the World Cup. Could it really happen? And if so, how can you lower your risk? Let's take a look.

World Cup 2026 safety: Could foreign fans be detained?

The sad reality ahead of the 2026 World Cup is that, yes, foreign fans could end up being detained. Ever since Donald Trump won the 2024 US Presidential election, efforts to deport undocumented immigrants in the USA have ramped up.

Trump has given more power to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency) in this regard. Agents have been tasked with rounding up illegal immigrants and deporting them, which has led to ugly and tragic scenes across the country.

The idea of foreign supporters being misprofiled and detained by ICE cannot be ruled out. After all, it was not that long ago that two US nationals were shot dead by ICE agents in Minneapolis.

There is also Trump's travel ban, which has seen individuals from 75 countries handed either restrictions or outright bans on travelling to the USA. If any fans from these countries are found in the USA during the World Cup, then they could also quite easily be detained.

How to avoid detainment

The best way to avoid detainment is to, first of all, only travel to the USA for the World Cup if you are legally allowed to do so. If you end up in the country illegally, then you are increasing your chances of detainment tenfold.

Unfortunately, those who are travelling legally also face the risk of detainment. These supporters should ensure that they have important travel documents, such as passports and visas, with them at all times. If you have these and they are valid, then you should be okay.

Finally, don't do anything stupid. Bad behaviour is likely to result in law enforcement getting involved, which comes with a risk of detainment attached.

What to do if you are detained

If you do find yourself detained, then it's important to remember that everybody in the USA has the right to counsel (a lawyer). Before agreeing to anything with law enforcement, make sure you act on these rights and speak to a lawyer, even if it's a free one appointed by the court.

Also, don't try and antogonise any federal agents. The police have a reputation for being heavy-handed in the USA, so try and stay in their good books as best you can.

Andy is a freelance sports writer with ten years of experience covering major sporting events across Europe. He has also been a season ticket holder at Old Trafford since 2008 and has visited over 40 football stadiums in the United Kingdom and abroad following the Reds.

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