ICE Patrols at FIFA Club World Cup? Trump’s Fear Agenda Keeps Getting Worse

Summary

Bulwark Takes: ICE Patrols at FIFA Club World Cup? Trump’s Fear Agenda Keeps Getting Worse
The Bulwark
Release Date: June 12, 2025

---

Introduction

In this episode of Bulwark Takes, host Tim Miller engages in a deep discussion with sports correspondent Pablo Torre about the intersection of sports, politics, and law enforcement in the United States. The conversation delves into the controversial presence of ICE agents at the FIFA Club World Cup, the implications of government actions on sporting events, and broader concerns about civil liberties and corruption.

---

ICE Presence at the FIFA Club World Cup

Tim Miller initiates the conversation by highlighting a recent news story: the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents will be present at the FIFA Club World Cup held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. This security measure includes reminding non-U.S. citizens to carry proof of legal status and deploying officers in full gear to monitor attendees.

[01:17] Tim Miller: "I saw this news story about how DHS has confirmed that ICE and Border Patrol agents will be on site for security at the start of the FIFA World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. ICE has reminded non US citizens to carry proof of legal status."

---

The Nature and Legitimacy of the Tournament

Pablo Torre clarifies a common misconception by distinguishing the FIFA Club World Cup from the traditional FIFA World Cup. Unlike the latter, which features national teams, the Club World Cup comprises top club teams from around the globe. However, Torre criticizes the tournament's legitimacy and financial motivations, suggesting that it's a new, poorly received venture intended more for revenue through broadcasting rights than for genuine sporting competition.

[02:28] Pablo Torre: "The FIFA Club World cup is a fascinating venture because it's not the World cup, but it's run by the people who run the World cup and it's the clubs, meaning that they invited the best clubs in the world to participate in a tournament that, as far as I can tell, nobody really wants to participate in because it's not Real Madrid."

---

Government and Security Measures Impacting Attendees

The discussion shifts to the implications of ICE's involvement in the event. Torre expresses concern that the presence of heavily armed agents may deter attendees, especially non-citizens, from participating in what should be a unifying sporting event. He frames this as a clash between FIFA's commercial interests and the government's authoritarian security measures.

[04:46] Pablo Torre: "This is public private partnership, I mean public private corruption with an added layer of police state."

Tim Miller adds that the security measures could instill fear not only in undocumented individuals but also in lawful visa holders, making them hesitant to attend the event altogether.

[07:35] Tim Miller: "It's just going to be true for people that actually are undocumented, of course, in particular, but it's also got to be true of, like, legit visa holders. It's like, I don't want to go to some fucking authoritarian government to have some thug in a mask shake me down."

---

Comparisons to International Sports Event Issues

Torre draws parallels between the current situation in the U.S. and international incidents where athletes have faced detentions or other legal troubles while abroad. He references Brittney Griner's detainment and Will Barton's involvement with a Moscow team as examples of how sports can become entangled with political conflicts and human rights issues.

[09:35] Pablo Torre: "There are many others where you're just not sure if you're going to get paid, you're not sure if you're going to get a passport, you're not sure if you can get the basic things that you're entitled to as an employee, let alone a fan."

Torre emphasizes the irony that America's attempts to project itself as a welcoming and free nation are undermined by policies that create an environment of fear and authoritarianism.

[09:35] Pablo Torre: "It's the dark irony of all of this is that in an attempt to make us more purely American, we're behaving less and less American."

---

LIV Golf Tour and Tax Incentives in Louisiana

Switching gears, Tim Miller addresses the recent decision in Louisiana to offer a tax break to Jeff Landry to host a one-weekend LIV Golf tournament sponsored by Saudi oil billionaires. Torre criticizes this move as another instance of "fake pop-up sporting events" driven by corrupt influences rather than genuine sporting merit.

[10:40] Tim Miller: "We are now giving a tax break to Jeff Landry to live in order to encourage the Saudi oil billionaires to hold a one weekend tournament in Louisiana. Like absolutely insane."

Torre links this to broader issues of corruption and the commodification of sports, suggesting that both Donald Trump and Saudi interests are using sports as a means to gain exclusivity and social standing.

[11:21] Pablo Torre: "They both are genuine golf fans who both want the thing that any golf fan wants, which is a green jacket. They want to be members, man. They want to be in the clubs that they weren't allowed into."

---

NBA Pacers' Championship Prospects

In the final segment, the conversation shifts to basketball, specifically focusing on the Indiana Pacers' unlikely chances of winning the NBA Championship. Despite being considered underdogs, Torre argues that the evolving dynamics of the NBA, such as the emphasis on depth, youth, and three-point shooting, could favor the Pacers' style of play.

[12:27] Tim Miller: "Is that possible?"

[12:37] Pablo Torre: "They can. Yes. Unfortunately, Reggie Miller will be giving the choke sign to cameras all across our country. I think that I am quite wrong."

Torre highlights that while the Pacers' potential success is exciting from a sporting perspective, it may not garner widespread attention due to a lack of established brands and mainstream appeal.

---

Conclusion

Tim Miller wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to check out Pablo Torre’s show, emphasizing the depth and evergreen quality of his content.

[13:35] Tim Miller: "Go check out his show. It's so much good stuff. You can go back in the archives. It's Evergreen. Pablo Torre finds out. Appreciate you, brother. See you soon."

---

Key Takeaways

• Security Measures at Sports Events: The involvement of ICE and Border Patrol at the FIFA Club World Cup raises significant concerns about civil liberties and the atmosphere of fear at sporting events.

• Legitimacy of the FIFA Club World Cup: The tournament is criticized as a financially motivated venture with questionable participation interest, undermining the integrity of global sports competitions.

• Government and Sports Intersection: The collaboration between government agencies and sporting events exemplifies a troubling blend of public security and private entertainment, potentially deterring participation and attendance.

• Corruption in Sports Sponsorships: The LIV Golf Tour’s tax incentives in Louisiana highlight ongoing issues of corruption and the influence of wealthy, often foreign, interests in American sports.

• NBA Dynamics and Unlikely Champions: Shifts in NBA playstyles may open doors for underdog teams like the Indiana Pacers to achieve championship success, though mainstream attention may remain lacking.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Tim Miller [01:17]: "I saw this news story about how DHS has confirmed that ICE and Border Patrol agents will be on site for security at the start of the FIFA World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens."

• Pablo Torre [04:46]: "This is public private partnership, I mean public private corruption with an added layer of police state."

• Pablo Torre [09:35]: "It's the dark irony of all of this is that in an attempt to make us more purely American, we're behaving less and less American."

• Tim Miller [10:40]: "We are now giving a tax break to Jeff Landry to live in order to encourage the Saudi oil billionaires to hold a one weekend tournament in Louisiana. Like absolutely insane."

• Pablo Torre [11:21]: "They both are genuine golf fans who both want the thing that any golf fan wants, which is a green jacket."

---

This episode of Bulwark Takes provides a critical examination of how sports events are being leveraged by governmental and private interests in ways that may undermine civil liberties, the integrity of sports, and the welcoming image traditionally associated with American-hosted international competitions.

Transcript

[Richard Karn]

Hi, I'm Richard Karn and you may have seen me on TV talking about the world's number one expandable garden hose. Well, the brand new pocket hose Copperhead with Pocket Pivot is here and it's a total game changer. Old fashioned hoses get kinks and creases at the spigot, but the Copperhead's pocket pivot swivels 360 degrees for full water flow and freedom to water with ease all around your home. When you're all done, this rust proof anti burst hose shrinks back down to pocket size for effortless handling and tidy storage. Plus your super light and ultra durable pocket hose Copperhead is backed with a 10 year warranty. What could be better than that? I'll tell you what an exciting radio exclusive offer just for you for a limited time. You can get a free Pocket Pivot and their 10 pattern sprayer with the purchase of any size Copperhead hose. Just text water to 64,000. That's water to 64,000 for your two free gifts with purchase W A T E R to 64,000. By texting 64,000. You agree to receive recurring automated marketing messages from Pocket Hose. Message and data rates may apply. No purchase required. Terms apply. Available at pockethost.com terms.

[Tim Miller]

Hey everybody. Hey everybody. It's Tim Miller from the Bulwark here with my buddy Pablo Torre of Pablo Torre finds out you should go subscribe to his YouTube and this one if you haven't. He is our unofficial sport correspondent here at the Bulwark and he is coming at us with kind of the Gen Z angle on the phone selfie which I like, which I apologize.

[Pablo Torre]

There's a truck. I'm on the sidewalk. Potentially dodging ICE agents who are undercover. It's. It's okay. The truck's peeping is done. Thank you for having me.

[Tim Miller]

Thank you for doing this from the sidewalk. It's important. Whenever we talk, it's because something important is happening. And you know, we just have to just get you where we can get you here. Here's this one. I saw this news story about how DHS has confirmed that ICE and Border Patrol agents will be on site for security at the start of the FIFA World cup at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. ICE has reminded non US citizens to carry proof of legal status. So carry your papers if you're going to the soccer game. They also had a since deleted post that said that their officers will be suited, booted and ready to provide security. So we've got self described jack booted Officers demanding people's papers outside a soccer match. Pablo, I want your take on that. But before we get to your take on just like, whether this, about the, the appropriateness of this behavior from our government, like FIFA, the World cup has started. Like, I don't understand what's. I don't. I don't do soccer. I'm a basketball man. I don't. So I don't even understand. Is the World cup happening?

[Pablo Torre]

No. These are the right questions to ask. So the FIFA Club World cup is the event in question. The FIFA Club World cup is a fascinating venture because it's not the World cup, but it's run by the people who run the World cup and it's the clubs, meaning that they invited the best clubs in the world to participate in a tournament that, as far as I can tell, nobody really wants to participate in because it's not Real Madrid.

[Tim Miller]

When you say Real Madrid.

[Pablo Torre]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Manchester United. All of these world famous clubs from around the world, the highest levels, as well as, you know, random club teams in other countries. The premise there is that you can make money by charging rights fees to air this thing, but it's not. It's a first of its kind new event. And it is most notable in the political context, as you may recall from three months ago, when the head of FIFA, who is no stranger to outright corruption, was a visitor to the White House and presented Donald Trump himself with a trophy that I believe you might have some of the visuals on. But it is.

[Tim Miller]

Trump loves the trophy. Let's. And we. And we love doing trophy content. You and me together. We famously did the JD Vance dropping the trophy content. So let's like, let's just pull this up real quick. Okay. Trump's oohing and ahhing here.

[Pablo Torre]

He's ooing and ahhing. There's like a spinner rim dynamic to this golden, beautiful thing that they're also saying it'll live in the White House, this trophy, until we have to award it, and then it'll be back in the White House again. So all of which is to say that this is a money earning venture for FIFA, a famously globally corrupt institution that they are selling in partnership with Donald Trump will keep the literal trophy at the White House. And the people who lose in this, I had thought were going to be certainly the players who have to show up for this fake event and pretend like it matters because it has the words world and cup in it. But the new losers are the people who are, I mean, frankly, foolish enough to hate to Want to attend this because now you might get arrested depending on whether or not you are part of, I don't know, one of the most common demographics for soccer interest. So when I say this is public private partnership, I mean public private corruption with an added layer of police state.

[Tim Miller]

Which is, it's just a straight, I want to get to the ice stuff. But it's just the trophy thing because I didn't, I didn't, I didn't follow this. I thought it was again, as a non soccer person, I thought that this was a thing that existed before. Like we just kind of created a weebing. The World cup just created a fake trophy. And like Donald Trump likes gold things and likes trophies and the World Cup's going to be in America in 2026. And so like this is a little suck up like to him. Like we just, we just give like, like him a little trope because we know he likes all his fake golf club victories. We're just going to give him a little trophy. That's what happens.

[Pablo Torre]

Well, the tournament is real. It's just the fake World cup. So they call it the World cup. So everyone presumes it's the World Cup. It's not. And the trophy is actually, it seems gold and means nothing because it's never existed before. But Trump isn't interested in whether any of this is real.

[Tim Miller]

Yeah, right.

[Pablo Torre]

He's interested in the trophy.

[Tim Miller]

So he likes being a fancy boy that gets trophies. My nephew loves the trophy a little. He's seven.

[Pablo Torre]

It's a nice trophy. It's a nice trophy. Tim.

[Tim Miller]

The Inter Miami is in the match against Egypt Alfie Club. And so again to your point, it seems like this would be attractive to people who are in Miami who are not American citizens. Like the types of people that'd be interested in this tournament. Maybe they're visiting, maybe they're on a tourist visa, maybe they live in Miami, they have a mixed status family. So like the idea that they're like no bring your fucking papers seems like particularly relevant for this event. Like maybe more than anything else in the country.

[Pablo Torre]

It feels like this is where the interests of FIFA might be in conflict with the interests of this government. The government who by the way of course is using LA as this case study in police state disappearances. Given that, oh yeah, 48% of LA is Hispanic or Latino. Pretty sure the percentages of people who'd want to attend an event like this in South Florida might be along those lines. So the question of like why would you do this? Speaks to now the way in which sports get used by a government that is not interested in sports doesn't give a shit about the integrity of a competition, let alone the people attending. They want the scalps, they want the circus, they want the commercial they're going to film off of this. And that's where I'm like. Let alone the fake World cup, what's the real World cup going to be like? Yeah, how do you possibly fold an event where actually the world converges on America? And this has been a question I've been asking since before this whole announcement about security, quote, unquote, security procedures. Like, what. Why are you. You're saying don't show up basically.

[Tim Miller]

Right. A lot of people gotta be afraid to come for good reason. Right? That it's like, what if I get hassled at the airport? You know, what if I get, like, what if I get hassled at the event? Like. And, you know, so that is going to be true for people that actually are undocumented, of course, in particular, but it's also got to be true of, like, legit visa holders. It's like, I don't want. I'm not going to go to some fucking authoritarian government to have some thug in a mask shake me down. Like, I'll just chill. I'll just watch this thing on tv.

[Pablo Torre]

If there's a political miscalculation in all of this, because we know this government loves to target truly defenseless people who don't have the papers they demand. The political miscalculation would be, what about all the people who do and the people that know those people who now understand why it's terrifying to be stopped by any of these unmarked vans and agents. That's the part where it's just very reasonable to assume it's not worth the risk. It's just because, Tim, it just. There's, as you know, there's no shortage of stories of them just getting it wrong. You guys have held now rallies in favor of drawing attention to those who they have unjustly disappeared. This is. Well, this part is incredibly well documented and the effects are going to be quite real.

[Tim Miller]

Yeah, this was my thing tying back to another sports thing of like, we're not. We haven't gone full Russia. So I don't want to be, you know, I don't want to overhype this, but, like, they're like legit threats and concerns and like that. You see that there are parallels to other countries and you have these sports figures that go to Russia. You had the Brittney Griner thing where she gets detained. And even before that, my boy from the Nuggets, Will Barton, joined like the Moscow team or one of the teams. And I'm going, I'm like, can somebody get to Will and tell him not to join that team? Like, it just, you just become a place where people don't want to go because like any risk of being unjustly arrested or detained just ain't worth it. And like that's what we're becoming.

[Pablo Torre]

It's the dark irony of all of this is that in an attempt to make us more purely American, we're behaving less and less American. And I mean that from a pure branding perspective. You're right. This is third world shit. This is autocratic government that Americans have been terrified of because there is no due process over there because you can be caught with. I mean, again, Brady Griner is just one example. There are many others where you're just not sure if you're going to get paid, you're not sure if you're going to get a passport, you're not sure if you can get the basic things that you're entitled to as an employee, let alone a fan. And that's all. Where as a truck backs up in front of me, it's hard to avoid the metaphor of do they realize what they're backing up over? Because it is in fact the soft power premise that America is a place that people want to live in and visit and go to sporting events inside of. It's just a massive miscalculation.

[Tim Miller]

All right, two final rapid things since you got the truck in front of you. Unrelated, we Talked about the LIV Golf Tour 1 of the last times we were together here in my home state of Louisiana. We are now giving a tax break to Jeff Landry to live in order to encourage the Saudi oil billionaires to hold a one weekend tournament in Louisiana. Like absolutely insane. It's one thing if you're giving a tax incentive to a stadium to a rich person to build a stadium that will be there, that will be there for mixed purpose. We're having a one weekend spin off golf tournament for the oil despots that's undermining the American golf tournament and the taxpayers of Louisiana are going to pay for the this unbelievable.

[Pablo Torre]

It is, it is the era of fake pop up sporting events. That is what we are finding out here today. Tim, there's money to be had in sporting events that no one gives a shit about except for the autocrats who may or may not be backing it. The live golf thing. By the way, we did an episode of my show about this this week. Just understand that there's an Occam's Razor to all of this. With Trump and golf in Saudi Arabia, both Yasir Al Rumayan, who's the money man for mbs, and Donald Trump, who is our president, they both are genuine golf fans who both want the thing that any golf fan wants, which is a green jacket. They want to be members, man. They want to be in the clubs that they weren't allowed into. Now that they have all of the power in the world, they still can't get it. And so they're using every lever available to them in sports to get to exclusivity that they cannot buy. And that's as good an explanation of why is Trump so obsessed with live golf and Saudi Arabia and any of this? It's because he wants to be a member at a club. It's Bizarro Groucho Marx. He only wants to be a member at a club that wouldn't have him.

[Tim Miller]

Couldn't put it better myself. All right. Do the Pacers actually have a chance? They're up to one could the Pace. The Pacers would be the most unlikely NBA champion in our lifetimes. Is that. Is it possible?

[Pablo Torre]

We're at a point where superstars in the NBA have mattered less than they ever have before because of financial regulations, because of, frankly, style of play has now incentivized depth and youth and running.

[Tim Miller]

Around shooting, shooting like you can be down 16 and win a game because you're just firing threes and they're a three point differential. You know, like that wasn't happening in the 90s.

[Pablo Torre]

The Pacers are a team that is so unexciting from a brand perspective to watch win in NBA Finals. But the way they play is a. Is a great TV show. It's 20 point comebacks. It's all these dudes who should be tired but aren't. They're super athletic. They play in a fun way. And unfortunately, fewer and fewer Americans want to watch that. There aren't the brands in that. In that Pacers locker room that America is tempted enough to watch. NBA nerd.

[Tim Miller]

Can they win? Can they win? Can the Pacers?

[Pablo Torre]

They can. Yes. Unfortunately, Reggie Miller will be giving the choke sign to cameras all across our country. I think that's. I think I have the Thunder in six, but, you know, it's very likely that I am quite wrong.

[Tim Miller]

All right, Pablo Torre. That's my man. Go check out his show. It's so much good stuff. You can go back in the archives. It's Evergreen. Pablo Torre finds out. Appreciate you, brother. See you soon.