Club World Cup in the USA – Safety in question, business in danger

Disputes between the military and protesting people, massive action against migrants – the situation in the USA deteres many fans from the club World Cup and endangers FIFA’s business.

“Migrants are the heartbeat of Los Angeles“ – That was on a banner that on Monday (09.06.25) in the ranks in the Los Angeles stadium Football Club When playing the Major League Soccer against Kansas City hung. The words were next to it “Creates that ICE away”. ICE stands for the United States Immigration Authority. Again and again there were calls against the ICE in the stadium. The authority had carried out raids in several districts of Los Angeles on Friday and arrested numerous migrants because they should not have any valid papers. They are threatened with deportation.

The procedure triggered protests, many people in Los Angeles were applied. Since then the conflict of Washington DC From keeping escalating. US President Donald Trump mobilized 4,000 reservists from the National Guard and sent 700 forces of the US Marines Corps in the city – against the will of the governor of California, Gavin Newsomaand Karen Bassthe mayor of Los Angeles.

While Trump is fueling the domestic political conflict with the sending of military armed forces, the big football circus comes into the country: FIFA, its president Gianni Infantino A close relationship with Trump is organizing your club World Cup in the USA from Saturday (June 14, 2025). The Los Angeles Football Club, in which the fans protested against the deportations of migrants, plays along. But in view of the high prize money, large clubs from Germany and Europe such as Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Manchester City.

Announced for Saturday: nationwide protests, a military parade – and the club World Cup

After the opening game, the view goes straight to Los Angeles, where a nightly lock in the city center has been in place since Tuesday. In the stadium Rose Bowl there is one of the most prominent games in the preliminary round on Saturday – the Champions League-S winner Paris Saint-Germain hits Atlético Madrid. On the same day, hundreds of protests nationwide are under the motto “No Kings“(” No kings “) planned against the Trump government. At the same time, Trump, who turns 79 on Saturday, will open a military parade with tanks and fighting helicopters in Washington DC on the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the US Army.

The authoritarian approach of the US President must particularly fear people with a history of migration. Many of them are football fans, many of them could actually visit the games of their favorite clubs at the club World Cup. But not everyone feels comfortable with it.

A fan club in the USA from Flamengo Rio de Janeiro In February, out of concern for the immigration authorities, said a party at which fans should follow the Brazilian Supercup together. “We decided against it because we thought it could ruin the lives of many people”said a fan of the “New York Times“.

Club from Los Angeles: “Side by side with all members of our community”

At first, FIFA did not answer a request from the sports show how to assess the situation and whether fans from certain countries or population groups at the club World Cup have to worry about their safety. The Los Angeles Football Club, participant in the club World Cup and, among other things, opponents of Flamengo, found words about the situation.

“The Lafc is convinced that the real strength of our community comes from people and cultures that shape the image of this beautiful and diverse city “it said in a message from Monday. “Today, when so many people in our city feel fear and uncertainty, the LAFC side stands by side with all members of our community.”

La player Jeremy Ebobise After the game, emphasized that it was important to stand together. “And it is important that we have assured ourselves again instead of sitting in the corner anxiously. Solidarity is the only way through. I wanted to address it, because the situation is not normal, and we are not allowed to see it as normal either. But I am afraid that the situation will continue to escalate.”

Entry and waiting times for Visa cupboards fans

The situation also throws a shadow on the regular World Cup of the national teams, which the USA organizes together with Mexico and Canada and which begins in exactly one year on June 11, 2026. Also closer to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Trump has imposed a flat -rate entry ban for several countries. Among them is Iran qualified for the World Cup. Teams and trainers are excluded, but fans are not.

For fans who come from the respective countries, there are also problems such as long waiting times. Waiting times for tourist visa are also long in many countries. In Colombia’s capital Bogota it takes 15 months for people to get an appointment – after the 2026 World Cup. “Everyone will be welcome”said Gianni Infantino at the FIFA Congress in Paraguay with reference to the 2025 club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup. The American government assured him of this.

For many fans, the fulfillment of this promise is pending – provided that they still want to travel to the tournaments. The “Financial Times“Published figures, according to which the demand for visas for the United States has dropped greatly at least in Europe.

FIFA has to lower prices for the tickets

At FIFA, the concern should trigger concern, albeit primarily on an economic level. The World Association is aiming for two billion US dollars with the club World Cup. A quarter of it should come from the sale of tickets and VIP packages. This business is at risk.

FIFA continues to lower the prices for the tickets, which were sometimes extremely high at the beginning. Hardly any game is sold out, hundreds of tickets are available for the players, whether you want to see Bayern Munich, Lionel Messi or Paris Saint-Germain. The ticket prices for the preliminary round games of the two German teams have recently been reduced: According to information from the sports show, fans in the cheapest category in the group games can now go to the stadium for $ 26, and prices were sometimes more than twice as high.

Fans of Borussia Dortmund told the sports show that they initially paid $ 80 for a place in the upper rank, now they have tickets in the middle rank for $ 26. FIFA reimbursed the difference. Tickets for the games of Bayern and BVB were still plentiful on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, the FIFA tries to fill the ranks with ever new actions: students of the Miami Dade College near the Hard Rock Stadiumwhere the opening game between Inter Miami with Lionel Messi and the Egyptian club Al -Nahly takes place, tickets for the opening game are already receiving for $ 20 – there are four more tickets free of charge. A request from the sports show on the sales figures for the tickets left FIFA unanswered.