FIFA officials are reportedly attempting to leverage President Gianni Infantino’s relationship with Donald Trump to broker a “moratorium” on ICE raids during this summer’s World Cup.

The proposal comes as world football’s governing body faces mounting internal and external criticism over its proximity to the U.S. administration. While top brass in Zurich are wary of the political optics, Infantino has consistently argued that maintaining a close alliance with the White House was essential for the tournament’s logistical and commercial success.

With the 2026 World Cup just eight weeks away, major FIFA figures have broached the idea of a temporary halt to controversial immigration enforcement.

ICE operatives have recently been deployed into several Democrat-controlled “Blue” cities where opposition to the administration’s policies remains high, and tensions peaked in January after the deaths of two American citizens—Renee Good and Alex Pretti—during anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis.

Infantino’s public displays of support for Trump have sparked a global backlash and formal ethics complaints especially following the Peace Prize Controversy. In December 2025, during the World Cup Finals draw in Washington D.C., Infantino presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize. Some officials reportedly only learned about the award through media reports.

Infantino has been spotted at Trump rallies and the launch of the “Peace Board,” even briefly wearing a red hat emblazoned with “45-47″—a reference to Trump’s two presidencies.

FIFA leadership reportedly viewed the decision to display the Club World Cup trophy in the Oval Office as a major victory for the event’s prestige, and Trump later claimed Infantino told him he could keep the original trophy permanently, leaving the winners with a replica.

The alliance is being severely tested by the ongoing US and Israeli military operation against Iran with Iran’s national team, “Team Melli,” scheduled to face Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt in group stage matches to be held in Los Angeles and Seattle

While Infantino claims Trump has welcomed the team, the President has also publicly questioned the “safety” of their attendance on social media, and FIFA has so far rejected Iranian requests to relocate their matches to Mexico.

The presence of ICE agents has also triggered domestic labor unrest, and hospitality workers at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium have threatened to strike during the tournament unless FIFA publicly demands that ICE stay away from the matches. President Trump has hinted that he might ask Infantino to move matches away from cities like Boston if he deems local leadership has allowed conditions to become “unsafe.”

As kickoff approaches, FIFA finds itself in a high-stakes balancing act: relying on a personal friendship to ensure a smooth tournament while navigating a minefield of human rights concerns and international conflict.