One of the biggest (and most popular) cities in the USA is in the center of attention once again, and like so many times before, it’s not good. Los Angeles is the epicenter of immigrant protests which started a few days ago. The protests have been largely peaceful but occasionally punctuated by violence, mostly contained to a few blocks of the city’s downtown area. The protests broke out last Friday in response to a series of immigration raids. USA president Donald Trump in turn called in the National Guard on Saturday, then summoned the Marines on Monday, stating that if he didn’t react quickly, ‘Los Angeles would be burning to the ground right now’. But the city will soon become the venue of FIFA’s Club World Cup, which is set to start on Saturday 14th of July and the Rose Bowl Stadium with a capacity of over 88.000 will host some big European clubs like PSG, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan.POV: You are riot police in Los Angeles.What exactly is peaceful here? pic.twitter.com/mLnX0xNrvj— Liberty Pill Memes (@LibertyPillMeme) June 11, 2025 The Parisians are already in the USA and they are stationed just outside the city, so the military like atmosphere in Los Angeles doesn’t affect them yet, but Atletico Madrid players are in the city and they are feeling the ‘heat’. There were reports that United States immigration and border agents will be deployed at venues hosting FIFA Club World Cup games when the tournament kicks off this weekend. An ICE spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by AFP, while FIFA President Gianni Infantino played down any concerns about ICE agents being deployed to Club World Cup matches.”No, I don’t have any concerns about anything in the sense that we are very attentive on any security question” Infantino told reporters at an event in Miami.A celebration nobody wants — Paris in chaosSo far, so good. PSG players and staff are in the Newport Beach and are training at the University of Irvine, about sixty kilometers southeast of the city center. The tension zone is very small compared to the size of the city. The Parisians are not impacted in any way, and their club store is set to be open in Melrose Avenue. The other good news is that the Rose Bowl stadium is not close to the protesters and riots, but it would be logical that they appear near the venue when the game between PSG and Atletico takes place on Sunday. Unlike the Parisian, the Madrid club is located in the city itself, so sirens, helicopters in the sky and armed police in the streets are something they are hearing every day. Also, they have to respect a curfew imposed by the authorities due to the violent protests. Travel is prohibited in the area between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. until further notice, and only law enforcement, medical personnel, accredited journalists, and residents traveling to the workplace can be excused. Not a nice way to train, and they will be stationed there for the next two weeks. Luckily for the players, a major tussle between the protesters and the police happened one day before their arrival. Less than twenty meters from the Atletico hotel, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, home of the Philharmonic Orchestra, was attacked on Monday night. A door was damaged with projectiles. Makeshift barriers have been installed while it is being repaired.##NAJAVA_MECA_8975092##
