By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
To ensure that the expanded Club World Cup which will kick off on June 14 with the opening match between Inter Miami and Africa’s most successful club, Al Ahly of Egypt and the 2026 FIFA World Cup are without any issues, President of Federation of International Football Federation (FIFA), Gianni Infantino has asked the President of the United States of America (USA) to
make sure that security is guaranteed for the participating teams.
This is even as Infantino said travelling international
fans will be welcomed at FIFA tournaments including the 2026 FIFA World Cup holding in USA, Canada and Mexico, pointing out that he has been working closely with the White House to obtain assurances from President Donald Trump that security is guaranteed for teams and fans visiting USA during the summer’s
competition.
Said he: “I have been working closely with the U.S. government to ensure the safety of fans travelling to America for the FIFA World Cup. The 2026 World
Cup will be the first held in the U.S. since the famed 1994 event. The Club World Cup kicks off on June 14 as Inter Miami will face Al Ahly in the tournament opener while the World Cup will start on July 11, 2026.”
The FIFA President stressed that travellers from around the world will be welcomed at the 2026 World Cup, saying the sport’s governing body has assurances about security from the White House.
“It is very important we have the engagement of the different government agencies to make sure that security is guaranteed, that fans can travel to the U.S. and around the U.S., that transportation is working perfectly, that the world will be welcomed,” Infantino told American news outlet.
Prompt News reports that Infantino met with President Donald Trump in Washington D.C. in March and followed it up by meeting with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel last week in Miami, the Post reported. He also met with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and discussed “security and potential issues” that could arise from a high volume of visitors expected to come from to the U.S. for the global tournament.
“We got all these guarantees from the government, who is very, very engaged to make sure this Club World Cup is a huge success, because this will pave the path as well for next year,” Infantino said.
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