World Cup
Security concerns grow around World Cup in the US after stalled funding
Intelligence briefings reviewed by Reuters have warned of the potential for extremists and criminals to target the World Cup at a time when hundreds of millions of dollars of approved security funds have been delayed, causing U.S. preparations to fall behind.
The previously unreported briefings from U.S. federal and state officials and FIFA, the international federation overseeing the World Cup, outlined the risk of extremist attacks, including attacks on transportation infrastructure and civil unrest related to President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
The soccer World Cup, one of the globe’s biggest sporting events, will be held in June and July this year across three countries – the United States, Canada and Mexico.
While security at such events is always intense, U.S. law enforcement officials have been on especially heightened alert since the start of the war on Iran and have raised concerns over retaliatory threats.
Officials working to prepare for the World Cup in the United States have increasingly sounded alarms in recent weeks over a stalled $625 million in federal security grants for the event that were part of a Republican-backed spending bill passed in July 2025.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, tasked with distributing the money, said in November that it was expecting to allocate the funds no later than January 30.
Following inquiries by Reuters this month after officials and organizers complained that they had still received nothing, FEMA announced on Wednesday that it had awarded the grants, saying the money would “bolster security preparations.”
With the first matches kicking off in Mexico on June 11 and then the U.S. and Canada the next day, states and cities hosting the events are deep into planning, including how to safeguard from possible attacks. The delayed funding and threat warnings have compounded an already complex process, multiple officials involved told Reuters.
The grant money distribution process normally takes months, and efforts to buy technology and equipment can take even longer, according to Mike Sena, president of the National Fusion Center Association, which represents a network of 80 information centers across the U.S. that facilitate federal, state and local intelligence sharing.
“It will be extremely tight,” he said.
A December 2025 intelligence report from New Jersey looking at potential threats to matches in the state – which will include the final – flagged recent domestic attacks, disrupted terror plots and a proliferation of extremist propaganda. The report also noted the possibility of spontaneous gatherings related to tensions between countries.
Another intelligence report, dated September 2025, described an online post appearing to encourage attacks on railroad infrastructure during the World Cup that said there were “plenty of opportunities for us to knock it off the tracks” and highlighted matches on the West Coast of the U.S. and Canada. The documents were obtained through open records requests by the transparency nonprofit Property of the People.
DELAYED FUNDING, WORRIES ABOUT ICE
Democrats have blamed outgoing U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for delaying the release of the money. Under Noem’s leadership, DHS also withheld, opens new tab hundreds of millions of dollars in homeland security funds last year from a dozen Democratic-led states and Washington, D.C., while pressing them to increase immigration enforcement.
In response to a request for comment, White House spokesman Davis Ingle faulted Democrats for the delayed funding, citing disagreements over immigration enforcement tactics.
“The president is focused on making this the greatest World Cup ever while ensuring it is the safest and most secure in history,” Ingle said in a statement. “The Democrats need to stop playing games.”
Trump’s immigration crackdown has already cast a pall over the event and raised concerns about the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Since Trump took office in January 2025, masked immigration agents have rounded up suspected immigration offenders in U.S. cities and detained some tourists at airports.
That has coincided with a Trump-era dropoff in overall international visitors, according to U.S. Commerce Department data. Early signs have however indicated still strong appetite for flight bookings and ticket sales for the tournament.
In a FIFA weekly intelligence briefing dated January 28, analysts warned that anti-ICE activism in U.S. cities in response to immigration enforcement could lower the barriers “to hostile actions by lone actors or extremist elements.”
Trump has also placed full or partial travel bans on nationals of more than three dozen countries, including Iran, which is in talks with FIFA to move its matches to Mexico due to its current conflict with the United States. Three other countries whose fans face Trump travel bans – Haiti, Ivory Coast and Senegal – have also qualified for the tournament.
SECURITY CONCERNS EXTEND TO FAN EVENTS
Several World Cup and state officials have said “FIFA Fan Festival” events are a particular concern. The events allow large numbers of people to watch matches together on open-air screens.
A Fan Festival event that had been planned in Liberty State Park in Jersey City for the duration of the tournament was canceled unexpectedly last month and replaced with smaller gatherings.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said at the time that many smaller events would allow more people in the area to enjoy the experience. Security concerns also factored in the decision, a person familiar with the planning said.
U.S. Representative Nellie Pou, a Democrat representing a district in New Jersey that includes MetLife Stadium, one of the sites where games will be played, said that each of the World Cup’s 104 matches would be equivalent to a Super Bowl.
“Local government, local law enforcement, will certainly have their hands full,” Pou said. “They need every single dollar that they are eligible to receive, and they need it now.”
-Reuters
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Sardar Azmoun, one of Iran’s top soccer players, has been expelled from the national team for a perceived act of disloyalty to the government, Iranian media has reported, making it unlikely he will play any part in the World Cup.
Iran’s participation in the World Cup as a whole is under a cloud because of the ongoing conflict with the United States, who are co-hosting the June 11-July 19 tournament with Mexico and Canada.
If Team Melli do turn up for their opening-round group matches, they will undoubtedly be weakened by the absence of striker Azmoun, who has scored 57 goals in 91 internationals since making his debut as a teenager in 2014.
Azmoun, who plays his club football in the United Arab Emirates for Shabab Al-Ahli, upset the Iranian authorities this week by posting a picture on his Instagram feed of a meeting with Dubai’s ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Iran has launched rocket and drone attacks on the UAE following air strikes by the United States and Israel, which killed the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
A report on the Fars News Agency, which has links to the hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, cited “an informed source within the national team” as saying Azmoun had been expelled from the squad.
PICTURES REMOVED
Azmoun later removed the pictures but was still lambasted on state TV on Thursday with football pundit Mohammad Misaghi saying the striker’s actions had been an act of disloyalty.
“It’s unfortunate that you don’t have enough sense to understand what kind of behaviour is appropriate at a given time,” Misaghi said.
AFC Qualifiers – Third Round – Group A – Iran v United Arab Emirates – Azadi Sports Complex, Tehran, Iran – March 20, 2025 Iran’s Sardar Azmoun in action with United Arab Emirates’ Kouame Kouadio Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS /File Photo
“We should not mince words with such people. They should be told that they are not worthy of wearing the national team jersey.
“We have no patience for this sulking and childish behaviour. National team players should be people who proudly belt out the national anthem and deserve to wear the Iran jersey.”
There was no immediate response to a request for comment on the matter from the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI).
Azmoun, 31, is one of the best-known footballers in Iran, where the game is a national obsession.
He has played his entire club career abroad with stints at Zenit Saint Petersburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Roma as well as featuring for Iran in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
An unsourced report on the Novad News channel said on Thursday that an order had been issued for the seizure of the assets of Azmoun, another UAE-based national team forward Mehdi Ghayedi, and former international Soroush Rafiei.
Misaghi was speaking against the backdrop of pictures of a ceremony welcoming the Iranian women’s national team back to Tehran on their return from Australia.
Seven of the delegation accepted asylum in Australia after the team was branded “wartime traitors” on Iranian state TV for not singing the national anthem before a Women’s Asian Cup match. Five later decided to return to Iran.
Iran’s men are scheduled to play friendly internationals in Antalya, Turkey against Nigeria on March 27 and Costa Rica four days later as part of their World Cup preparations.
-Reuters
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By Kunle Solaja.
FIFA is unlikely to relocate Iran’s group-stage matches at the 2026 World Cup from the United States to Mexico, despite a formal request from Iranian authorities citing security concerns.
Multiple reports from international media outlets indicate that FIFA intends to proceed with the official match schedule for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Iran’s three group-stage matches, against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt, are scheduled to be played in Los Angeles on June 16 and June 21, and in Seattle on June 26.
The Iran Football Federation has been in discussions with FIFA over the possibility of moving the fixtures to Mexico following rising geopolitical tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
Concerns intensified after comments by former U.S. president Donald Trump, who said it may not be appropriate for Iran to participate in the tournament in the United States, citing safety issues.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, said such remarks raised doubts about the host country’s ability to guarantee security for participating teams.
Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj stated that the team would not travel to the United States if its safety could not be assured, adding that discussions were ongoing to have the matches moved to Mexico.
Mexico has indicated its readiness to host the games. President Claudia Sheinbaum said it would be feasible for the country to stage Iran’s matches, but noted that any decision rests with FIFA.
Despite these developments, FIFA has maintained that it is in regular contact with all participating nations and expects matches to be played according to the schedule announced in December 2025.
The situation has raised the possibility that Iran could withdraw from the tournament if no agreement is reached. Iran’s Sports Minister, Ahmad Donyamali, has previously suggested participation may not be possible under current conditions.
If Iran refuses to compete, FIFA could impose sanctions, including fines and possible exclusion from future competitions, although such measures may be influenced by security considerations. The governing body would also be expected to replace Iran with another qualified Asian team to maintain the tournament structure.
While match relocations due to geopolitical concerns have occurred in the past, observers note that implementing such a change at the World Cup level would present significant logistical challenges.
For now, FIFA appears set to hold its position, leaving uncertainty over Iran’s participation as the tournament approaches.
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- Summary
- * Iran continue preparations for World Cup amid conflict
- * Soccer chief says will not play in US, will not withdraw
- * FIFA urged to ensure safety and human rights at World Cup
The Iranian national team are continuing to prepare for the World Cup finals and have no intention of pulling out of the tournament even if they will not travel to the United States, soccer chief Mehdi Taj said on Wednesday.
Iran were one of the first nations to qualify for the finals but their participation has been in doubt since the conflict between the Islamic Republic and the United States began in late February.
The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19 and is being staged in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Team Melli are scheduled to play all three of their opening-round group matches in the U.S. but Taj said on Monday the Iranian FA (FFIRI) was negotiating with FIFA to have them moved to Mexico.
Iran will play Nigeria on March 27 and Costa Rica four days later in Antalya as part of a four-nation invitational tournament that had to be moved from Jordan because of the conflict in the Middle East.
“The national team is holding a training camp in Turkey, and we will also play two friendly matches there,” FFIRI President Taj was quoted as saying by the Fars News Agency on Wednesday.
“We will boycott America, but we will not boycott the World Cup.”
Taj was speaking on Wednesday as he welcomed the players from the women’s national team back to Iran at the border crossing from Turkey after their protracted journey from Australia.
All of the delegation, who were in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup, were offered asylum by the host nation because of fears for their safety in Iran. While seven were accepted, only two ended up staying.
U.S. President Donald Trump had urged Australia to offer the players asylum and later said that while the Iranian men were welcome to play in the U.S., it might not be appropriate for their “life and safety”.
Trump later stressed any threat to the players would not come from the United States, but Taj — a former member of Iran’s hardline Revolutionary Guard — used the president’s statement as grounds for demanding the venue switch.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday that her country would be open to hosting Iran’s World Cup matches against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in June, but the final say on any venue switch would be FIFA’s.
Soccer’s world governing body said it was in contact with FFIRI but was “looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on 6 December 2025”.
Beau Busch, the Asia-Pacific president of football players’ union FIFPRO, said it was FIFA’s duty to ensure the safety of everyone involved at the World Cup.
“FIFA have an institutional responsibility to protect human rights,” the Australian told Reuters.
“What’s critical is that FIFA undertake a really comprehensive human rights impact assessment, and they assess to ensure that every single participant at the World Cup, every player, every fan, can be safe, and that any risks are identified and mitigated effectively.”
-Reuters
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