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The World Cup is about 100 days away from the official kickoff in North America, and for those traveling to the United States to watch the games, the fight between Senate Democrats and the White House over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is poised to have a major impact if the issue continues to play out this way.
DHS has been without funding for two weeks, with negotiations between Senate Democrats and President Trump’s administration at a standstill. A White House official told PK Press Club Digital last week that a “serious” offer had been made to Senate Democrats, but no agreement had been reached. Interior Secretary Kristi Noem was questioned by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
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United States fans before the United States faces Jamaica in the second leg of the 2024 Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals at Citypark on November 18, 2024 in St Louis, Missouri. (Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Yet the two sides appeared to remain deadlocked even as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called on Democrats to reach a deal this week.
While the DHS has warned Americans about lone wolf terrorist attacks in the United States due to the conflict in Iran, it’s World Cup fans likely looking to escape political details for a month who could be most affected.
Trump’s White House task force, created to coordinate events with FIFA around the World Cup, was administered outside of DHS, forcing several U.S. host cities to stage critical games without appropriate federal funding and potentially putting Americans and travelers at risk, a source familiar with the matter told PK Press Club Digital.
“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be one of the largest and most spectacular events in human history, right here in the United States of America,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told PK Press Club Digital. “This event will generate billions of dollars in economic impact and create hundreds of thousands of jobs in our country. The President is working to make this the largest World Cup ever while ensuring it is the safest and most secure in history.
“Democrats must stop playing games and end the DHS shutdown immediately, so the great American people can fully enjoy the experience of this historic World Cup.”
President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the official draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Émilee Chinn/FIFA via Getty Images)
This is far from the only problem DHS faces when it comes to the World Cup.
Crucial resources involving the deployment of funds to agencies administered outside of DHS have also been impacted.
FEMA has been slowed in its ability to process payments for U.S. host cities for the FIFA World Cup grant program, Customs and Border Protection’s Global Entry program services have been disrupted, likely causing headaches for fans trying to ensure they enter the United States without problems, and interagency training exercises to ensure the safety of World Cup participants could be halted until funding arrives, the source said.
“The Department of Homeland Security is absolutely integral to delivering a safe, secure and successful World Cup,” Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, told PK Press Club Digital. “From protecting America’s air sovereignty to keeping our cities safe, DHS brings together intelligence, border security, emergency management, and coordination with state and local law enforcement across the country.
Fans wave an American flag before the 2024 Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal second leg match between Jamaica and the United States at Citypark on November 18, 2024 in St Louis, Missouri. (Joe Puetz/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
“It’s time for Democrats to end the shutdown, so DHS can continue its essential mission of protecting the American people and ensuring everyone who comes here for the World Cup can do so safely.”
Senior Republican officials also spoke out about the impasse.
“As threats increase and we prepare for major global events on American soil this summer and the midterm elections this fall, thousands of employees from agencies like TSA, CISA and FEMA continue to show up every day to keep their fellow Americans safe, but they are working without pay,” said House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y. “The operational disruption caused by the closure has the potential to compromise the security of our critical infrastructure and transport systems, while ongoing financial uncertainty for staff threatens to cause longer-term damage to the Department as a whole.
THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP IS IN 100 DAYS! HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
“World Cup and law enforcement stakeholders testified before the committee last week, warning that delays in federal funding could seriously jeopardize planning and preparation for the largest sporting event in history. The House did its job to avoid this unnecessary disruption to DHS funding by passing a bipartisan DHS appropriations bill for fiscal year 2026. As a result of Democrats’ policy decision, our country is more vulnerable to threats – and that’s a risk that we cannot accept.”
Rep. Mike McCaul, Republican of Texas, leaves the floor after the House of Representatives failed to elect a new House Speaker in the first round of voting at the U.S. Capitol, October 17, 2023. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Texas Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s task force on securing the homeland during special events, called on Democrats to prioritize the safety of Americans.
“With just 100 days until the first match of the FIFA World Cup, now is the time to urgently secure venues, counter drone threats and coordinate law enforcement activities,” McCaul said. “Instead, the Democratic shutdown put much of this vital preparation on pause, putting the safety of millions of Americans and international visitors at risk. In today’s high-threat environment, the stakes are simply far too high for partisan games.”
Sens. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and Rick Scott, R-Fla., echoed the call to end “political games” during the funding debate.
Democrats have refused to change their position on DHS funding until changes are made to Trump’s immigration strategy. The joint American and Israeli military operation in Iran does not seem to have alleviated their demands.
Sen. Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, was among those who rejected the Republican demands.
“We have warned Republicans that we are serious about curbing the actions of ICE forces. What we are talking about is responsible,” he told Politico.
“It’s very easy for them to get all of this funded, just by accepting our common-sense proposals on ICE and Border Patrol,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday. “As for our negotiations, look, we’re still very far apart.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., hold a joint news conference at the U.S. Capitol on January 8, 2026. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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At this point, football fans may need to brace themselves for a torrid tackle this summer as the debate continues between both sides of the aisle.
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