LA's Disagreement over FIFA Football and Trump Politics
A Raw, Unfiltered Look at LAFC's Fan-Led Resistance Against ICE
The ultras of LAFC, a major football club in Los Angeles, have quite a reputation for their creativity, volume, and passion. But last week, their usual chants, drums, and pyrotechnics were replaced by an eerie silence during their home game against Kansas City. The silence was so deafening you could hear isolated coughs in the stadium. Instead, the fans, predominantly of Mexican origin, turned to large banners against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the controversial immigration and customs enforcement agency of the USA. "Abolish ICE" was scrawled on one banner. Another read: "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty."
LAFC, one of the most beloved football clubs on the West Coast, also released a statement. "Today, as many feel fear and uncertainty in our city, LAFC stands shoulder to shoulder with all members of our community."
The Political atmosphere - Tension Escalates
These actions were a direct response to the US government's aggressive immigration policy. ICE, along with local law enforcement, conducted raids in Los Angeles and took migrants into custody. This led to peaceful protests. Not surprisingly, President Donald Trump took the extraordinary step of deploying 2000 National Guard soldiers against the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom. The political climate in the city remains highly volatile - and that could have repercussions for football. The upcoming Club World Cup is scheduled to take place in Pasadena, a suburb of Los Angeles, in the coming weeks.
ICE announced that employees would be present at the tournament, stating that "all non-US citizens must carry proof of their legal status." This news was met with comments from LAFC players. "It's important that we don't retreat to our corners and be afraid," said striker Jeremy Ebobisse.
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"For decades, Mexican immigrants have come to the USA in search of better working conditions, but they still feel connected to their homeland," says Mike Woitalla, editor-in-chief of the online medium Soccer America. "In football, they can express these emotions." This applies to the Major League Soccer MLS, the highest US football league, and especially to international matches. The Mexican Football Federation regularly rents stadiums in the USA for friendly matches of its national team, where many Latinos live.
Many similarities
In football, the USA and Mexico have long formed a common market. Clubs from both countries meet in summer test tournaments. The league that achieves the highest viewing figures in the USA is not the MLS or the English Premier League, but the Mexican professional league MX. The Mexican Football Federation generates a third of its annual income in the USA: through broadcasting rights, sponsors, or ticket sales. In this environment, the next football World Cup, which will take place in the USA, Mexico, and Canada in 2026, was seen as a stage for a lucrative business.
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In the Trump era, this carefully constructed network may face its limits. For instance, on Saturday, the Gold Cup, one of the major tournaments in North and Central America, was opened at the Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles. The Mexican national team won against the Dominican Republic 3:2. In the last three games at this stadium, the Mexican team had an average of 64,000 spectators. This time, there were 54,000. Many fans of Mexican origin let their tickets go to waste due to raids and protests. Apparently, many undocumented immigrants also fear being arrested in a heavily guarded environment. Groups protested against the immigration authorities near the stadium.
No clear criticism of Trump is heard from official sides, associations, or leading national players from the USA or Mexico. This was different in 2016 after his first election as president. At that time, both teams posed for a joint photo before their World Cup qualifying match in Columbus. Will there be similar images at the Club World Cup or next year at the World Cup?
Battle for the favor of Latinos in LA
The influence of Latinos in US football has grown steadily over decades. The immigration laws of 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson made migration from the south easier. Hundreds of thousands of Mexicans came to the states, bringing their religion and hobbies, including football. "The immigrants had to work hard and experienced racism early on," says the US-Mexican sociologist José Alamillo. "Through sports, they could connect and talk about their home traditions."
In Major League Soccer, which was introduced in 1996, the clubs in Los Angeles - LA Galaxy and LAFC - also compete fiercely for the favor of Latinos. And this also applies to the third and youngest professional club in Los Angeles, Angel City, a member of the National Women's Soccer League since 2022. "If you want to build trust in communities, you have to be present locally," says Nicole Moreno, who has built the outreach program at Angel City, i.e., measures to spark interest throughout the city. "It's not enough to just call or send out newsletters."
Angel City, for example, invites Mexican influencers to the home games of its footballers and organizes events in the east of LA, where many Latinos live. The club also plays friendly matches against the Mexican national team, the "Copa Angelina". This is also a social network that may be particularly challenged in the era of President Trump. On Saturday, Angel City played against North Carolina Courage. The players showed up in special T-shirts. The message: "Immigrant City Football Club".
- In the midst of escalating political tension and controversy surrounding the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the sporting world has not remained untouched. The ongoing deportation policies have led to protests, such as those seen at the Gold Cup tournament opener in Los Angeles, where many fans of Mexican origin chose not to attend, fearing arrest in a heavily guarded environment.
- Given the growing influence of Latinos in US football, particularly in Los Angeles with clubs like LA Galaxy, LAFC, and Angel City FC, the attitudes and actions surrounding immigration could significantly impact the fan base and support for these clubs, adding an unexpected layer of politics to the general-news and sports sectors.
