FIFA executives want Gianni Infantino to leverage his friendship with Donald Trump to freeze ICE raids during the World Cup. This summer's tournament takes place across the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the prospect of football's governing body making a direct request emerging as a possibility.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been at the centre of clashes with protestors as they seek to enforce Trump's promise of mass deportations. American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretty were killed when agents launched a clampdown in Minnesota this year.
The policy has proven controversial and led to unsavoury scenes, with FIFA seemingly reluctant to have the portrayal of the World Cup matched with violent deportations. According to the Athletic, FIFA chiefs have raised to Infantino the possibility of limiting the presence of ICE during the tournament.
Infantino is said to be receptive to this idea. Executives had initially wanted to keep ICE away from World Cup venues but this then extended to the 11 US cities entirely. With national teams based all across the nation, officials are now claimed to want a full stop to ICE raids for the duration of the tournament.
Infantino is claimed to have told senior executives that he would 'seek to make a president-to-president ask of Trump'. It is uncertain whether this request has been made or if Trump and his administration would be open to such a discussion.
One pitch by FIFA suggests that they could make a joint announcement with the White House to frame an ICE moratorium as a positive news story for both FIFA and the Trump administration. Given a crackdown on illegal immigration has been a priority and the controversial ICE raids have been used regularly by Trump's administration, it is far from certain that they will be receptive.
Infantino has described this summer's tournament as the "the biggest show on the planet, the biggest show on Earth for which the world will stand still".
"You know, we all learn at school that the world rotates around the sun, and so on, and then around itself," he said. "Well, during the 39 days of the FIFA World Cup, the world will stand still, and everyone will be watching and focused on football or soccer."
“Sixteen fantastic host cities in these countries, that 48 teams, 48 countries will participate. They will play 104 matches in 39 days, which is basically the equivalent of, for the Americans in the room, 104 Super Bowls in a little bit more than one month,” he added.
This summer, 48 teams will contest the World Cup for the very first time. FIFA has also discussed the possibility of expanding to a 64-team tournament in 2030 after receiving a formal pitch from South American leaders.
The CONMEBOL council has called for Infantino to be reelected as FIFA's president after a decade in power. The 56-year-old has yet to declare his intention to run for the position again, having almost completed three terms.