The immigration raids ordered by Donald Trump since last year in the United States have caused uncertainty among Mexican fans residing in that country, to the point that they have given up on seeing at least one match of the 2026 World Cup live, which could have been their only opportunity to experience the biggest soccer tournament in person.
“Many families who were very excited about going to a World Cup are now afraid to go out. They know they wouldn’t be able to enjoy it because there could be a raid (near the stadiums). The situation has been very difficult for many people,” said Paco Rubén, leader of the Cielito Lindo fan group, who lives in Los Angeles and knows this problem firsthand.
As a worker at a migrant shelter and a member of the Latino community in the United States, Paco Rubén has witnessed in the past year the difficulties faced by Mexicans and undocumented immigrants from other countries due to the raids and the new immigration policies.
“Do you think everything that has happened could create a more tense atmosphere leading up to the World Cup?”
“I’m sure it will. I tell many people that what they see on social media is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
“It has been a very difficult situation for many families. They can’t even go to the supermarket; they’re even afraid to go get gas. They live in a situation where they get up, go to work, and return straight home without going anywhere else, because simply going to get food for their families is already a risk,” he lamented.
Protecting their loved ones, a priority
He revealed that there are people with their immigration documents in order, but they have also been affected by the possibility of being arbitrarily detained. This painful situation has impacted the interests of fans, because in many cases the desire to experience the World Cup at home or see at least one match in the stadium has faded in the face of the urgent need to protect their safety and that of their loved ones.
“Many have already changed their plans and priorities. There are people who do have their documents, but now they are more worried about getting money to support their families, who can’t leave home and need help running errands or taking their children to school,” she said.
According to official federal government data reported by NBC News, more than 220,000 people were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the first nine months of Donald Trump’s administration, of whom more than 85,000 were Mexican.
