World Cup fans planning to travel to the United States are being urged to prepare their paperwork well in advance, carry proof of their travel plans and remain patient with heightened security measures.

It comes as concerns grow over immigration enforcement ahead of the tournament.

Travel security experts and U.S. officials have told Newsweek that visitors who have the correct documentation—including passports, visas or ESTA approvals, accommodation details and return travel information—should expect a smooth entry process, despite recent World Cup-related travelers who have encountered immigration difficulties.

Examples include several Scottish fans reportedly having their travel permissions revoked only days out from Scotland’s first match against Haiti on Sunday, and Omar Abdulkadir Artan, one of Africa's leading soccer referees set to officiate the tournament, being refused entry on Saturday.

What To Know About Immigration and The World Cup

Concerns have also been raised about immigration enforcement during the World Cup, with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently criticizing plans to expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the city as it prepares to host tourists.

But the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) pushed back against these concerns, telling Newsweek, “international visitors who legally come to the United States for the World Cup have nothing to worry about.”

Travel risk expert Lloyd Figgins advised visitors to “ensure you have the correct documentation, understand the requirements of your journey and travel well prepared” while remaining “patient, cooperative and well-informed.”

The U.S. Travel Association, leading travel industry trade group, also rejected the “perception that visiting the U.S. is not as welcoming as it once was,” saying: “Our message to travelers around the world is simple: America wants you here.”

Advice For Those Concerned About ICE

Trump's second term has seen ICE agents deployed across the country to carry out expanded immigration enforcement operations, making major headlines in January, when Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, two 37-year-old U.S. citizens, were shot dead in the streets of Minneapolis by federal agents.

ICE director Todd Lyons said in February that his agents would play a "key part" in World Cup security efforts, leading to concerns from some, including some workers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, renamed Los Angeles Stadium for the World Cup, who are using union action to demand that FIFA refuse to allow ICE officers into the venue.

On Monday, Trump's border czar Tom Homan warned he planned to send "more ICE than you've ever seen" to New York City—matches will be played across the Hudson River in New Jersey, the New York/New Jersey host region is due to stage eight games, including the final, and is expected to attract large numbers of visitors.

New York Mayor Mamdani spoke out against this plan in a post on X, saying: “We will not allow ICE or anyone else to sow fear in our communities — especially at this moment. As the world comes to our city, we will stand proudly with our immigrant neighbors and reject these attacks for what they are: an attempt to divide us.”

“Soccer would not exist without immigrants,” he said. “Immigrants play and coach the game, work in the stadiums, fill the stands, and make celebrations like the World Cup possible. Six of the players on the US Men's National Team are immigrants.”

DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis told Newsweek the presence of ICE agents was not something legal international visitors should be concerned about, but advised them to be “proactive” about their plans.

“What makes someone a target for immigration enforcement is whether or not they are illegally in the U.S.— full stop,” she said. “Speculation to the contrary is ill-informed.”

“At the same time, foreign visitors MUST be proactive and should start working on their travel plans and documents well ahead of time to ensure a smooth travel experience,” she said.

She also stressed that ICE agents would be there for people’s safety. The “DHS will continue leveraging every available authority, technology, and partnership to protect the Homeland while ensuring the World Cup remains safe, secure, and successful for everyone involved,” Bis said.

Travel risk expert Figgins, current CEO at The TRIP Group, and former Overseas Security Advisor to the British government, gave similar guidance about being well prepared and not viewing security presence as a threat.

“For travelers who are unfamiliar with seeing a heightened law enforcement or security presence, the most important advice is not to interpret visible security measures as an indication of a direct threat to their safety,” he told Newsweek.

“Large international events routinely involve additional policing, security personnel and operational activity designed to support public safety and event security.”

Advice for Those Concerned About Border Entry

Figgins said, “The most common issues at the border arise from documentation, misunderstandings of entry requirements, or inadequate preparation.”

“Travelers who have the correct paperwork and understand the conditions of their stay are generally best placed to avoid unnecessary complications,” he said.

“Visitors should carry appropriate identification, follow any instructions provided by authorities, and allow extra time when traveling through airports, transport hubs or event venues where additional checks may be in place,” he added.

The U.S. Travel Association, which is currently campaigning to make “travel to the United States more seamless, secure and welcoming,” gave the same advice and stressed that the majority of international air travelers have access.

One of the Scottish fans, “devastated” as having to miss the World Cup, musician Kenny Smith, told Newsweek he was given no explanation for why his ESTA, previously approved for a trip in November and supposedly valid until 2027, was revoked last Wednesday.

Reports of this happening to Scottish fans have led Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney to intervene and contact U.S. agencies in the hopes that “they can resolve this so that Scotland’s fans do not miss out.”

The DHS has not commented on any individual cases, but it told Newsweek: “The Trump administration is enforcing immigration laws.”

“All ESTA applications are continuously vetted against law enforcement and security databases,” a spokesperson said. “Travelers must provide complete and truthful information, including all criminal history. Failure to disclose arrests or convictions constitutes misrepresentation and can lead to ESTA denial, revocation, or a permanent bar from entering the United States. An approved ESTA does not guarantee admission.”

If you are ineligible for an ESTA because of “criminal convictions or misrepresentation,” you can still apply for a visa, the DHS said.