Witnessing A World Cup

Texas is hosting more 2026 World Cup matches than any other U.S. state. Between June 14 and July 14, Dallas and Houston will stage 16 games. Dallas Stadium (previously known as AT&T Stadium in Arlington) will host nine matches, the most of any venue. That includes five group games, two in the Round of 32, one in the Round of 16, and a semifinal on July 14.

And while the atmosphere around the games has been exuberant, for many there’s an underlying anxiety given the recent immigration crackdowns in the United States. Before the World Cup got underway, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said ICE and Customs Enforcement, and Homeland Security, will be out at venues every day throughout the tournament.

ICE at every venue

Agents will “be out there every day,” Mullin said, pointing to counterfeit tickets, human trafficking, and drug smuggling as their main targets. He said agents were not there to “go round up” non-citizens at the games. DHS has not ruled out immigration enforcement at the venues, and Mullin left open the possibility of arrests. White House border czar Tom Homan told CBS News agents would focus on public safety, not immigration enforcement.

More than 120 civil society groups issued a travel advisory warning that World Cup visitors “could be at risk of serious rights violations.” Civil rights groups have also published know-your-rights guidance for fans attending matches and gathering in fan zones.

What Texas officials say

Texas officials have played down the risk. Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz said he was “not at all” concerned about immigration raids during the tournament. Chris Canetti, president of Houston’s World Cup host committee, said ICE would not conduct immigration activities as he understood it. Asked about fear in immigrant communities, Canetti said it was “not a question for me.”

In Los Angeles, by contrast, federal officials told the county sheriff that civil immigration enforcement would not occur at its games. No such assurance has been reported for Dallas or Houston.

Weeks before the World Cup, Greg Abbott issued demands for city cooperation with ICE, which included the threat of cutting off federal funding to Houston, Dallas, and Austin. On April 16, the governor’s office warned Dallas that more than $32 million in grants and more than $55 million in World Cup public safety funding were at risk. Dallas revised its police policy on April 23, removing its ban on holding people for ICE during stops. Houston had updated its ICE ordinance a day earlier under after their $114 million funding threat.

Impacts of a travel ban

In June 2025, President Trump signed a broad travel ban covering 19 countries. In December, the ban expanded to 39 countries. Four of the qualified nations are affected, including Iran and Haiti. The exemption covers players, coaches and support staff. However, it does not cover fans. The U.S. also required a refundable bond of up to $15,000 from visitors from 50 countries, then waived it in May for World Cup ticket-holders who had registered for FIFA’s fast-track visa system by April 15.

Omar Abdulkadir Artan, the only Somali referee on FIFA’s list, arrived at Miami International Airport on June 8. Customs and Border Protection held him, cited “vetting concerns,” and sent him back. A U.S. official told reporters he had an “association with suspected members of terror organizations.” Andrew Giuliani, who runs the White House World Cup task force, said the denial was made for a “very good reason.” Artan returned to a public welcome in Mogadishu. UEFA then appointed him to officiate the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg on August 12.

A visa issue also left a sour note on an otherwise incredible match. Cape Verde, playing in their first World Cup tournament, played a stunning 0-0 match against heavy favorite Spain. The hero for Cape Verde was their 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha. After the match, he became emotional after noting his mother could not see his dramatic saves due to a visa issue.

Iran’s team

The U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. The operation put Iran's place in the tournament in doubt for weeks. Iran boycotted the December World Cup draw after the U.S. denied visas to members of its delegation, including federation president Mehdi Taj. FIFA rejected Iran’s request to move its matches to Mexico but allowed the team to relocate its base camp from Tucson to Tijuana. The players received U.S. visas on June 5, just ten days before their opener against New Zealand. Iran's embassy said that 15 administrative and management staff were denied visas. The team crosses the border for two group games in Los Angeles and one in Seattle, then returns to Mexico. Los Angeles is adding security for the Iran matches. Iran will not play in Texas.