Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Thursday that the security operation surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup has gone well, praising cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement as strong across the country.
Mullin spoke to Fox News Chief Correspondent Jonathan Hunt in an exclusive interview at Seattle Stadium, where he said he would not sleep soundly until July 20, the day after the World Cup Final. He described the coordination across jurisdictions, including in cities like Seattle and Los Angeles where the administration has political disagreements with local governments, as a model for future partnership.
"We may disagree on a lot of stuff when it comes to immigration and maybe some other issues," Mullin said, "but when it comes to protecting the fans and the fans' experience here, in LA or in other areas around the country, we've all really worked together, and I hope we can carry that on between the state, federal and local partnerships. We can do a good job for our cities when we work together."
Millions of soccer fans from around the world are attending matches in the United States, many of them visiting the country for the first time. Given media coverage of the Trump administration in their home countries, many fans reportedly arrived expecting a visible, militarized security presence. That is not what they have encountered. Much of the security work has been conducted undercover or in the background, a deliberate decision by organizers.
"We want people to enjoy their time," Mullin said. "We don't want to feel like they're walking through a war zone, but we want to let everybody know we're also working very hard to secure the premises. I don't care if you're outside the stadium, or you're inside the stadium, but the amount of officers we have that are dedicated to this from the federal, local to state is absolutely amazing, and we're doing it together."
Mullin also commented on the fan experience itself, saying the enthusiasm from international visitors has been notable. He pointed to social media videos as evidence of the positive reception the country has received from foreign attendees.
"They're so passionate about it, and they love America," Mullin said. "I mean, we see in the videos, my wife is absolutely infatuated with the amount of videos going on social media, with the fans that are here from around the world that are getting to experience the greatness of America, which is what it's all about."
Mullin said he had little familiarity with soccer before the tournament began but has since embraced the sport. The World Cup Final is scheduled for July 19.
