The 2026 FIFA World Cup may buy former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro a few extra weeks before his next court appearance, after federal prosecutors in New York requested that a scheduled hearing be postponed because of logistical and security challenges associated with the tournament.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York formally asked to delay a status hearing in Maduro's narcoterrorism case from June 30 to July 22, or a later date determined by the court. The hearing had previously been scheduled by U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein as part of the ongoing criminal proceedings against Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
In a June 15 filing cited by Mexican outlet Milenio, prosecutors argued that the postponement was necessary because of scheduling and security concerns tied to the World Cup.
"The Government understands that the adjournment is strictly necessary to avoid scheduling conflicts and logistical issues related to ensuring the safe transport of the defendant and the maintenance of public safety in connection with the currently scheduled June 30 date," the filing states.
The request comes as the New York/New Jersey region hosts several World Cup matches, including the tournament final on July 19. June 30, the date originally set for the hearing, falls during a busy period of World Cup competition due to a Round of 32 match, a factor prosecutors said could complicate transportation and security arrangements for Maduro's court appearance.
Maduro faces federal narcoterrorism and drug-trafficking charges in the Southern District of New York. He has remained in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York, while the case proceeds through the federal court system.
Officials consulted by Milenio said the main purpose of the request is to avoid any overlap between prison transport operations and the extensive security measures surrounding the World Cup.
According to the outlet, the next hearing will mark the first formal opportunity for prosecutors and defense attorneys to address the disclosure, classification and preparation of evidence, as well as any pretrial motions in the case.
Maduro pleaded not guilty in January to charges including narcoterrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine and weapons-related offenses. His wife, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty to the charges against her, including cocaine-importation conspiracy and weapons counts, though she is not charged with narcoterrorism.
