World Cup 2026 kicks off with caution: Florida warned of immigration enforcement ahead of the tournament

Travel Warnings Ahead of World Cup 2026

A coalition of civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups in the United States issued stark warnings to foreign tourists planning to travel to Florida to attend World Cup 2026 matches, citing potential risks related to immigration law enforcement and random detentions.

During a press conference in Miami near FIFA offices, the groups stressed the need for caution, carrying official IDs, and registering travel details with consulates before heading to the United States for the tournament set to take place in June, according to Politico.

Yarelis Zamora, coordinator of the "America for Friends Service Committee", said, "We urge visitors to think carefully before traveling to avoid any unwanted surprises."

Thomas Kennedy, spokesman for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, expressed concern about fans facing harassment while trying to attend matches, stressing the importance of ensuring there are no raid sweeps near stadiums.

Dariel Gomez, of the American Civil Liberties Union, explained that the warning aims to provide visitors with a realistic view of the likelihood of racial discrimination or detention, especially given Florida's hardline immigration laws.

So far, there has been no official comment from FIFA or the U.S. World Cup organizing committee.

And Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House panel, said in December that the president does not rule out action to ensure citizen safety, without denying possible immigration raids during the tournament.

Florida is among the states with the toughest immigration policies, with local authorities coordinating with the federal administration to carry out mass deportation operations. The groups also raised concerns about a travel ban on some countries, which does not include fans from Haiti, who qualified for the tournament for the first time in 50 years.

Despite warnings in 2023 against Governor Ron DeSantis's policies, tourism remained unaffected, with Florida reporting record visitor numbers, while DeSantis called the warnings "just a joke".

Florida will host 7 matches in World Cup 2026, held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.