Presence of agents could impact attendance for Club World Cup opener between Inter Miami and Al Ahly

• Border Patrol to help secure Club World Cup opener

• CBP deletes post after FIFA reportedly raises concerns

• Agents presence may impact match attendance

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Department of Homeland Security said that border patrol agents "will provide security" for Saturday’s Club World Cup opener between Inter Miami and Egyptian club Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium.

A since-deleted post from U.S. Customs and Border Protection said CBP would be "suited and booted ready to provide security for the first round of games." CBP are often involved in security operations in the lead-up to major events, monitoring airspace or assisting with rapid response to emergencies.

ICE officers, who also operate under the DHS umbrella, are primarily tasked with identifying and arresting individuals who violate U.S. immigration law. The presence of ICE agents could be impact attendance for the game, which FIFA President Gianni Infantino this week guaranteed would be sold out.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

According to a report from The Athletic, the CBP’s post was deleted after senior personnel from FIFA expressed concerns to the CBP about the reaction it had provoked. It is unclear the extent to which FIFA’s outreach influenced the decision to remove the post.

In a statement to The Athletic, a CBP Spokesperson said: “U.S. Customs and Border Protection is committed to working with our local and federal partners to ensure the FIFA Club World Cup is safe for everyone involved, as we do with every major sporting event, including the Super Bowl. Our mission remains unchanged.”

Infantino said of the presence of ICE and CBP at the Club World Cup, "I don’t have any concerns about anything in the sense that we are very attentive on any security question, of course the most important for us is to guarantee security for all the fans who come to the games, this is our priority."

DID YOU KNOW?

Infantino has met with White House official multiple times to ensure a smooth experience for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who are expected to visit the U.S. for the 2026 World Cup. U.S. President Donald Trump is also chairing a World Cup task force.

Last month, Infantino insisted "The world is welcome in America."

WHAT NEXT FOR FIFA?

FIFA is getting ready to kick off the revamped Club World Cup as Inter Miami will host Al Ahly on Saturday. (GOAL)