Argentina Shares List of 15,000 Banned Soccer Fans with U.S. Ahead of Club World Cup

In a significant move to bolster international sporting security, Argentina’s Security Minister Patricia Bullrich has delivered a list of over 15,000 individuals barred from entering football stadiums to the United States Embassy in Buenos Aires. The action comes just weeks before the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicks off across the U.S.

The expanded tournament, running from June 14 to July 13, will feature 32 teams including Argentine powerhouses Boca Juniors and River Plate. In an effort to prevent known troublemakers from attending, Argentine officials are cooperating with U.S. authorities to enforce bans issued domestically.

“The list includes more than 15,000 people who will be banned from stadiums. 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,” Bullrich told reporters during the announcement.

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The names were identified through Argentina’s "Tribuna Segura" (Safe Stands) program, which tracks individuals with histories of stadium violence and other criminal activity linked to sporting events.

“Since the beginning of this government, 'Tribuna Segura' has monitored more than 4 million people in 1,328 matches. We have detected 1,166 people with arrest warrants and have issued more than 40 administrative resolutions restricting entry to stadiums,” Bullrich added.

The measure was formally presented during a meeting with Abigail Dressel, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy. While Bullrich acknowledged that her ministry does not control visa statuses, she expressed confidence in U.S. immigration enforcement: “They are very strict about immigration, and they’ll handle the screening.”

Boca Juniors will compete in Group C alongside Bayern Munich, Auckland City, and Benfica. River Plate has been drawn into Group E with Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, and Inter Milan.

The submission of the list reflects not only Argentina’s commitment to curbing hooliganism but also a broader bilateral effort to ensure safe international sporting events.

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