Immigration Fears, Extreme Weather Impact World Cup Fan Attendance USA, Mexico, Canada

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States is facing significant challenges due to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies and extreme weather concerns ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Immigration sweeps and fears of ICE presence at stadiums have caused a notable decline in attendance, as seen in Mexico’s match at SoFi Stadium where nearly 10,000 fewer fans showed up, and in Charlotte where Hispanic fans are too afraid to attend a Real Madrid match. The restrictive immigration policies, including travel bans on several countries, have fostered fear and reduced fan participation, overshadowing the tournament's expanded format and record prize pool. Concurrently, extreme weather has caused multiple match delays and raised safety concerns for both players and fans, with heatwaves and thunderstorms disrupting games across several host cities. These weather disruptions, including long delays in Orlando, New Jersey, and Cincinnati, highlight potential risks for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in similar locations during the hot summer months. FIFA has stated it is monitoring conditions to ensure safety, but critics argue more needs to be done to address these challenges.