“This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase the beauty and the greatness of America. And we can’t wait to welcome soccer fans from all over the globe.” This statement by US President Donald Trump stands prominently on the US governement’s official visa information page for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
But the message of welcome contrasts sharply with the broader policy landscape in Trump’s second term. Immigration restrictions, intensified enforcement, and deportation raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have become defining elements of his administration.
“This is a difficult time in this country because a lot of things that are happening are extremely unusual,” says Daniel Kanstroom, a professor of law at Boston College. “We are seeing examples of ICE agents who appear to be overstepping their authority in some cases.”
The Trump administration has also tightened visa regulations, including broad suspensions affecting dozens of countries, in what Trump has described as an effort to “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries.”
The United States will host three quarters of the tournament’s 104 matches. The remaining will be held in Canada and Mexico, respectively.
Recently, social media has erupted with claims that thousands of fans are canceling their tickets out of fear of immigration enforcement.
DW Fact check had a look at the viral claims.
Thousands canceling world cup tickets?
Claim: “Overnight 16,800 people canceled their World Cup Tickets. This is commendable,” one userwrote on X in a post viewed more than six million times. Another user claimedthat more than 25,000 people had canceled their tickets.
DW Fact check: False
FIFA has denied these claims. “It’s fake news,” a FIFA spokesperson told DW over the telephone. The football body initially did not respond to our request for an interview but contacted us after the story was published. “No physical tickets have been handed over to customers by FIFA so far, and there is no bulk cancellation,” the spokesperson added.
FIFA’s customer support website clarifies that ticket sales are final and cannot be cancelled once “payment for the ticket has been successfully processed.” The organization reiterates that tickets should only be purchased through its official platform, which includes a dedicated resale and exchange marketplace.
More than a million World Cup ticketshave already been sold during the Visa presale phase, while FIFA has received more than 500 million ticket applications during the latest random selection draw.
Could ICE arrest fans during the World Cup?
Public anxiety has grown as ICE — the federal agency that enforces immigration laws inside the United States — has continued conducting large‑scale operations targeting undocumented migrants in recent months.
Several posts suggestthat ICE could also target soccer fans visiting the US. They claim that ICE could identify, detain, or deport fans attending the tournament.
Kanstroom believes this is highly unlikely. “I do not expect ICE would be involved in this,” he told DW, adding that the administration would not want to signal that ICE agents are targeting fans who have legally been admitted into the country. The scenario of fans being jailed, he says, “seems to be extremely, extremely unlikely.”
During President Trump’s second term, ICE’s budget and mission have expanded significantly, making the agency a focal point of the administration’s migration crackdown.
ICE has also faced controversy. In Minneapolis, an ICE agent shot and killed a 37‑year‑old US citizen, prompting widespread protests and debate over federal enforcement practices.
According to information provided the US Department of Justice, security at major stadium events is led by local and state law enforcement, with federal agencies providing intelligence and coordination, not frontline enforcement.
Are Brazilian fans barred from entering the US?
Claim: “In the midst of the World Cup year, US President Trump suspends visa issuance for 75 countries, including Brazil,” reportedthe Spanish‑language account Alerta News 24. The account has 2.6 million followers on X. Several otherposts also claimthat Brazilian fans will be unable to attend the World Cup.
DW Fact check: False
These claims are inaccurate. The Trump administration has paused immigration visa processing — which affects those seeking permanent residence — from 75 countries, including Brazil, Colombia, and Egypt. Short-term visas for travel and business, known as B1/B2 visas, are not affected. Brazilian citizens can still apply for a tourist visa to attend the World Cup.
“Therefore, a Brazilian national, for example, can still interview for a tourist visa to the United States that would allow them to attend the World Cup,” said Eryn Hanlon, a US immigration lawyer based in London and New York.
The US State Department has created a dedicated World Cup 2026 visa information page , where Brazilian applicants can findvisa instructions.
Brazil is the most successful team in World Cup history, having won the tournament a record five times and participated in every edition so far. Brazil remains one of the top nations for ticket registrations, accordingto FIFA.
Fans from several countries, including Brazil, are required to have a valid US visitor visa (B1/B2) to travel to the US for the FIFA World Cup 26, accordingto the State Department’s website. Most Europeans can travel visa‑free under the ESTA visa waiver program.
Trump earlier imposed a travel ban on 19 countries, which would bar fans from those nations from entering the US. These include four World Cup-participating countries: Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast.
“Iranian fans who are solely Iranian nationals will not be able to attend,” Hanlon noted. “If they are dual nationals and their other nationality is not on the list, they can attend.”
Athletes, coaches, and essential tournament personnel are exempt from the ban.
Edited by: Silja Thoms, Rachel Baig
Editor’s note: This article was first published on January 22, 2026, and has been updated on January 23, 2026, to include FIFA’s statement to DW.
