Trump's crusade jeopardizes the FIFA Club World Cup: even Messi can't fill the stadiums.

The FIFA Club World Cup kicks off amid intense protests and political tension in some major US cities. The Trump administration's immigration crackdown , with raids on the streets and in immigrant recreation and gathering centers, has sparked a wave of clashes in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington, and Atlanta. Many of these cities are hosting the 63 matches that will be played by the 32 teams in the first global tournament in FIFA's history.

"Everything is ready to celebrate a football festival this summer and next. Each country has its own policies, but FIFA is there to unite , and fans from around the world will be coming to the United States. Many issues are always discussed before a World Cup , but when it starts ..." said FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the eve of the tournament.

"For us, security is the top priority. We have 63 matches and we want them to be safe for the families and children who come to the matches. People are not coming to cause trouble , but to have a good time," Infantino added . Asked about how the arrests and deportations of illegal immigrants in the United States could affect the World Cup , the FIFA president said, " I have no concerns whatsoever ; we are very attentive to any security situation."

Raids feared at the Club World Cup

The 2025 Club World Cup is a rehearsal for the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico, two neighboring countries with which the United States has a complicated relationship . Just a month ago, Vice President J.D. Vance issued a warning to fans around the world. "I know we'll have visitors, probably from close to 100 countries. We want them to come. We want them to celebrate. We want them to watch the game, but when it's over, they're going to have to go home . Otherwise, they're going to have to talk to Secretary (Kristi) Noem," who is in charge of the country's Homeland Security .

As reported by The New York Times, fans fear arrests by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) during the Club World Cup matches. "Let the games begin! The first-ever FIFA Club World Cup will kick off on June 14 in Miami. CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) will be ready to ensure security for the opening matches," CBP stated in a since-deleted Facebook post.

A drop in revenue

The match between Inter Miami and Al-Ahly will open the tournament at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium. Featuring stars such as Leo Messi, Luis Suárez , Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets, the opening match should be a huge draw for the state of Florida's large Latino population . However, while ticket prices initially reached €306 , they have gradually dropped to around €50 a few days before the tournament begins.

And there are more examples. According to The Athletic , tens of thousands of tickets were still available for this match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami . Local newspapers report that a campaign has been running in Miami schools recently to sell tickets for €20 to students. The truth is that Trump's immigration policies, as well as slow visa processing, have already had an impact on visitors to the country and potential FIFA clients for the Club World Cup.

Last March, the Department of Commerce's National Travel and Tourism Office released data showing that visits to the United States from foreign countries fell 9.7% in March compared to the same month last year. Seventeen percent fewer Western Europeans visited the United States in March compared to the same period last year, with 23% fewer from Mexico and 26% fewer from the Caribbean.