May 14, Argentina: The government of Argentina has taken significant steps to ensure fan safety during the 2025 Club World Cup, which is set to take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13. On May 12, 2025, Argentina’s Security Minister, Patricia Bullrich, handed over a list of 15,000 violent football fans to the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires. These individuals will be banned from entering stadiums during the tournament due to their history of violent behavior in Argentine stadiums
The list of banned fans was compiled through the “Tribuna Segura” (Safer Stands) program, a government initiative that monitors and tracks fans with a history of stadium violence. Since its inception, the program has monitored over 4 million people across 1,328 matches, detecting 1,166 individuals with active arrest warrants and issuing more than 40 administrative resolutions to restrict their entry into stadiums
Minister Bullrich emphasized the importance of this measure, stating, “For us, this is extremely important because no violent person who has committed any crime in Argentine stadiums will be able to attend this sporting event.” The ban is part of a broader effort to ensure the safety and security of all participants and spectators during the tournament
Participating Teams
The 2025 Club World Cup will feature 32 teams worldwide, including two of Argentina’s most famous clubs: River Plate and Boca Juniors. River Plate is in Group E and will play against Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, and Inter Milan. Boca Juniors, on the other hand, is in Group C and will face Bayern Munich, Auckland City, and Benfica
Venue and Schedule
The tournament will be hosted in various U.S. cities, with River Plate’s group stage games taking place at Lumen Field in Seattle and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Boca Juniors will play their group stage matches at Hard Rock Stadium near Miami and Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee
The move to ban violent fans aligns with a bilateral agreement signed with the Trump administration, underscoring a growing focus on international sports security. U.S. immigration authorities will perform the necessary cross-checks to ensure that banned individuals do not gain entry to the tournament venues
The risk of fan violence has been a concern in previous international tournaments. For instance, before the 1994 World Cup in the U.S., English law enforcement shared information on “known hooligans” with U.S. officials. Additionally, Manchester City and Chelsea fans who have been subject to a Football Banning Order (FBO) will also be prevented from traveling to the U.S. for the Club World Cup, with around 150 fans of these clubs required to surrender their passports for the duration of the competition
2026 World Cup Preparations
The 2025 Club World Cup is seen as a dry run for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The security measures implemented for the Club World Cup will likely inform and influence the preparations for the larger and more complex 2026 tournament
Despite the security measures, there are concerns about visa processing and travel for international fans. The Trump administration has been known for strict immigration policies, and there are reports of tourists being detained while trying to enter the country. This could impact the travel plans of soccer fans hoping to attend the 2026 World Cup
The ban on 15,000 violent Argentine fans from attending the 2025 Club World Cup is a significant step towards ensuring the safety and security of the event. The use of the Tribuna Segura program and international cooperation with the U.S. authorities demonstrates a commitment to preventing hooliganism and creating a safe environment for all participants. As the tournament approaches, these measures will be closely monitored to assess their effectiveness and to inform future international sporting events. Keep reading Questiqa.com for more news.
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