The German professional soccer club Werder Bremen will not travel to Minnesota as part of a preseason tour in the U.S. this spring due to the federal government’s immigration crackdown in the state. Werder Bremen does not specify which club it planned to play in an exhibition game, but Minnesota U nited typically plays at least one international friendly each season. In 2025, the Loons played German club Holstein Kiel at Allianz Field in St. Paul. “In Minnesota, two people were shot dead by state authorities,” The Athletic and other outlets quoted a Werder Bremen club spokesman as saying, “Playing in a city where there is unrest and people are being shot does not fit our values. That will not happen for us.” A Minnesota United spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday. The Loons, who have the most-diverse roster of Minnesota’s pro sports teams, have had players speak out in fear of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in the state over the past few months. “People are scared. We are, too,” Loons midfielder Joaquin Pereyra told the Pioneer Press in January. “Fewer and fewer people want to be out on the streets because of what might happen to them.” Pereyra, an Argentine, has obtained a U.S. Green Card, but that does not make him feel safe in Minnesota. “Whether I’m walking around the neighborhood, at the supermarket, anywhere,” Pereyra said. “Obviously, that doesn’t guarantee me anything, because we’ve seen on the news that people who have had their Green Card and passport in their car, or whatever, are still taken away or treated badly.” Werder Bremen of the German Bundesliga also planned to go Detroit, where USL Championship team Detroit City FC plays. The Loons, who started their 2026 MLS season with a 2-2 draw at Austin FC on Saturday night, have played international clubs from Germany, England, Mexico, Costa Rica and Ireland since 2014. Related Articles Immigrant surge helped boost GOP states’ population, and they may gain US House seats as a result St. Paul neighbors band together to oppose immigration crackdown Communities fight ICE detention centers, but have few tools to stop them Made in St. Paul: Community-made solidarity posters, at Morgan Hiscocks’ Lunalux letterpress studio Texas man was fatally shot by a federal immigration agent last year during a stop, new records show ...read more read less