Manny Mizael changed Brazil for Boston 27 years ago, but his passion for a soccer team that is almost 8,000 kilometers away in Rio de Janeiro, is stronger than ever.
The passion is such that it helps manage an organized Flamengo crowd in Massachusetts. Your group regulates game screenings that attract hundreds of fans.
This year, however, the WhatsApp groups of fans began to stir with conversations about Trump government repression against immigration almost the same way as the achievements of Flamengo.
The fears were so great that the group canceled meeting to watch a game in February, Mizael said, for fear that he could become the target of an immigration operation. Many of the fans are from outside the United States and have no legal status.
“People are being captured on the streets and being arrested,” said Mizael. “We decided not to play the game because we thought it could ruin the lives of many people.”
The cancellation was a preview of how President Trump’s immigration policies can affect next year’s World Cup, the most watched sporting event in the world. It is expected to attract about 6.5 million people, especially to the United States, where most matches will be played (Canada and Mexico are co-fitrons of the tournament).
The fans routinely strive to their best, using years of economy or postponing large purchases like houses, to pay for travel like these, which happen once in their lifetime.
For some, the possibility of such a trip may already be convicted. Waiting times for visas for various countries – including Colombia, whose fans usually attend the World Cups in significant numbers – extend beyond next year’s tournament.
Iran, Asia’s first team to qualify for the World Cup, is on the list of 12 countries whose citizens have been prohibited from entering the US by Trump’s decision. He created an exception for athletes and teams at the World Cup and other sporting events, but not for fans.
In the latest tournaments in Russia and Qatar, host countries and FIFA have agreed with a visa exemption program for most tickets. There is nothing similar to the US.
Trump government’s harsh immigration policies also affected the World Cup organizing team, according to two people with direct knowledge of the subject. FIFA usually hires experienced contractors in major complex events such as the Olympics to help organize the tournament.
For the 2026 World Cup, this process has been more difficult than usual, as the government has refused some visa requests and questioned why FIFA cannot hire Americans, according to a soccer officer involved in the planning.
A FIFA spokesman contested the information that the process to obtain work visas is being difficult and noted that the organization had an 800 people team in Miami and planned to send personnel based in Europe to help.
The spokesman refused to comment on the possibility of fans of certain countries being prevented from watching the World Cup or what efforts FIFA was making to ensure that those with tickets could attend. The US internal security department also refused to comment.
Beginning next week, FIFA is organizing another $ 1 billion tournament, the Club World Cup. The competition will have 32 clubs, including Flamengo, and will also happen in the United States. Unpublished, it is a kind of precursor to the 2026 World Cup.
For the crowd of which Mizael is part, immigration efforts disrupted plans for what could be a football festival in the coming weeks.
Events to watch the games were canceled, as well as group travel discussions for matches in Philadelphia and Orlando, amid fears that a bus of immigrants could become a target. “This is something we can’t stand in our conscience,” said Mizael.
Thousands of seats remain for sale for the club tournament, and FIFA representatives have attributed at least part of this left over to the fans about their visa status, according to two officers.
Sales have been so weak that FIFA has reduced prices more than once. Prices on resale platforms are falling to the opening game, which presents Inter Miami, a team that sold out stadiums across the country last year when Lionel Messi joined his cast.
Other factors for apparent lack of interest include the absence of some of Europe’s biggest teams, initial ticket prices and uncertainty about a new tournament.
FIFA’s spokesman denied that ticket sales were “low” to US-based fans, but has not provided total sales numbers. He said fans from over 130 countries bought tickets.
The White House showed great interest in the World Cup next year. Trump established a task force, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino appeared at the Oval Hall, where the huge golden club trophy was on weeks.
At a task force meeting last month, Vice President JD Vance said fans could expect a “smooth experience” when visiting the United States and visitors from about 100 countries are expected.
However, he also warned them not to exceed the stay time. “When time is over,” he said, “they will have to go home.”
