The government of Buenos Aires has formally submitted a list of over 13,000 individuals with unpaid child support debts to U.S. authorities, who will now be denied entry to all World Cup matches held in the United States. This unprecedented cross-border enforcement measure, announced by Mayor Jorge Macri, prioritizes child welfare over football fandom.
The restriction covers all 78 of the tournament’s 104 matches played on U.S. soil, including Argentina’s group-stage fixtures against Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Mayor Macri delivered an uncompromising statement: “Those who fail to meet such a basic obligation as feeding their children will have to face the consequences. Those who do not provide for their children will be denied access to the stadium.”
The initiative extends a measure originally implemented by Buenos Aires City in March 2025, which scans attendee IDs at stadiums and concerts. To date, 187 operations have identified 162 delinquent parents. The database, known as the Public Registry of Delinquent Alimony Debtors (RPAM), has now been shared with U.S. border and stadium security forces through the national “Tribuna Segura” program.
Recipients can only regain entry by fully settling their debts and being removed from the RPAM register. The measure, widely praised for protecting children’s rights, follows Argentina’s recent ratification of the 1996 Hague Convention, strengthening international child support enforcement. It also aligns with Argentina’s new federal law authorizing stadium restrictions nationwide for anyone on a public alimony default registry.
Buenos Aires Justice Minister Gabino Tapia commented: “Those who fail to meet such a basic obligation cannot enjoy a sports show. It’s great news that they can’t enter the World Cup either. First they pay and catch up with their obligations.” The policy has been celebrated as a pioneering model of social accountability, though it applies exclusively to U.S.-hosted matches, with those in Mexico and Canada unaffected.
