The U.S. government has released all funds allocated for ‌security at the soccer World Cup, but the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security has affected planning and coordination, a department official told a Senate hearing on ​Wednesday.

“A lot of the planning efforts underway for the World Cup ​have been slowed down, have been delayed due to the ⁠lapse in appropriations, individuals being furloughed,” Christopher Tomney, director of the DHS ​Office of Homeland Security Situational Awareness, told the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Intelligence briefings reviewed ​by Reuters last month warned of the potential for extremists and criminals to target the World Cup, with officials working on preparations for the soccer tournament sounding the alarm ​on a delay in allocation of approved security funds.

Tomney said the Federal ​Emergency Management Agency has now distributed the $625 million earmarked for security. The 48-team tournament, one ‌of ⁠the world’s biggest sporting events, will be held in June and July across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

“All the funding has been released now. FEMA GO is up and operational,” he said, referring to the disaster agency’s grants ​management system.

The DHS shutdown ​has crossed ⁠the two-month mark, with lawmakers in Congress unable to agree on legislation to fund the agency in the wake ​of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Trump signed an order earlier ​this month ⁠to pay every DHS employee.

When asked how specifically the shutdown has hampered the agency’s ability to organize the event, Tomney pointed to the departure of hundreds ⁠of ​transportation security officers from the Transportation Security Administration.

“We ​just can’t replace that expertise overnight. It has hindered our coordination with state and locals,” he ​said.

-Reuters

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Senior officials within FIFA are considering urging its president, Gianni Infantino, to formally ask Donald Trump for a nationwide suspension of immigration enforcement raids during the 2026 World Cup in the United States.

The proposal, discussed at high levels within FIFA in recent weeks, centres on concerns that ongoing operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could disrupt the tournament atmosphere and deter international fans from attending matches across host cities.

Security Concerns and Political Context

Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has intensified immigration enforcement, with ICE conducting large-scale raids in several American cities. According to data cited by The Washington Post, ICE made roughly 1,000 arrests daily in the six weeks following a high-profile incident in January, with 42 per cent of those detained reportedly having no criminal record.

The crackdown has sparked protests and, in some cases, violent confrontations, raising questions about the potential impact of such operations during a global sporting event expected to draw millions of visitors.

ICE’s acting director, Todd Lyons, previously indicated the agency would play a “key part” in World Cup security, primarily through Homeland Security investigations. However, labour unions and U.S. lawmakers have expressed fears that enforcement activities could extend to areas around stadiums and fan zones.

FIFA’s Internal Deliberations

According to sources familiar with the discussions, FIFA executives initially explored limiting ICE’s presence around match venues in the 11 designated U.S. host cities. However, the scope of the proposal expanded to include entire cities and eventually the full duration of the 39-day tournament across all host states.

Infantino is said to be open to making a direct appeal to Trump, leveraging what insiders describe as a close working relationship between the two leaders. The FIFA president has attended multiple events alongside Trump and recently established a FIFA office in Trump Tower in New York.

Ghana have appointed Carlos Queiroz as head coach, the country’s football association said ​on Monday, with the Portuguese set to ‌make his fifth consecutive World Cup appearance.

Queiroz, 73, left his role as Oman coach last month ​after the side failed to qualify for ​the 2026 World Cup.

Ghana were left without ⁠a coach 72 days before the World ​Cup kickoff after parting company with Otto ​Addo following friendly defeats by Austria and Germany in March.

“The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association, working ​with all key stakeholders, has appointed Carlos ​Queiroz as head coach of the senior national team, ‌the ⁠Black Stars,” the GFA said in a statement.

Queiroz led Portugal to the round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup and later ​coached Iran ​at the ⁠last three editions of the tournament, recording three wins in 13 ​matches.

Born in Mozambique, the former goalkeeper ​has ⁠also held coaching positions with Egypt, Japan, Colombia, and South Africa, and previously led Portugal in ⁠the ​early 1990s.

Ghana have been ​drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, England and Panama

-Reuters

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