Rights groups warned that the 2026 FIFA World Cup could expose fans, journalists, and communities to human rights violations, as host countries face what Amnesty International described as an “acute human rights crisis.”
In a report titled “Humanity Must Win,” Amnesty said the tournament, to be staged across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, carries risks for “fans, players, journalists, workers and local communities alike.”
The report frames the tournament, set to be the largest in FIFA history, as unfolding within a deteriorating global rights environment, where migration crackdowns, shrinking civic space, and geopolitical tensions risk shaping how millions experience the event.
FIFA has pledged a tournament where everyone “feels safe, included and free to exercise their rights.” Amnesty warned, however, that “it is a promise that has rarely been more needed – and is at high risk of being broken.”
The group pointed to the United States, which will host most matches, as a key area of concern, describing the situation as a “human rights emergency” marked by a “recognizable pattern of authoritarian practices.”
Amnesty identified immigration enforcement as one of the most serious risks linked to the tournament, warning that current policies could directly affect both visiting fans and local communities.
The report described a system marked by “abusive, discriminatory and deadly immigration enforcement and mass detention,” raising concerns that large-scale operations could overlap with the World Cup period.
U.S. authorities, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, have intensified enforcement through raids, arrests, and detention practices that Amnesty said in some cases amount to “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and in some cases torture.”
More than 500,000 people were deported in 2025, according to data cited in the report, with arrests inside the country and at the border rising sharply. The number of street arrests increased eleven-fold, while the number of children held in detention rose six-fold.
Amnesty said these trends raise urgent concerns as millions of fans are expected to travel to the United States. It noted that neither FIFA nor U.S. authorities have provided assurances that fans, migrants or residents will be protected from ethnic profiling, raids or deportation during the tournament.
The report also warned that immigration enforcement may be integrated into World Cup security, after the acting ICE director told Congress the agency would be “a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup.”
Border restrictions could also limit participation. Of the 39 countries under severe travel restrictions, four have qualified for the tournament, raising concerns that many fans will be unable to attend.
Amnesty also linked the tournament to a broader geopolitical context, warning that global tensions could further shape the risks surrounding the event.
“Globally, the situation is fraught,” the report said, noting that despite being awarded the FIFA Peace Prize in December 2025, the Trump administration has “actively sought to dismantle and defund existing systems of international cooperation.”
It added that the administration has committed “an act of aggression in Venezuela” and launched air strikes in Latin America that “constitute extrajudicial executions.”
The report further said the United States, “jointly with Israel,” had initiated “large-scale attacks against Iran,” which have “killing civilians as well as putting the country’s participation in the tournament in doubt.”
The report also raised concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, noting that major tournaments often draw protest and critical reporting, but existing policies and security measures may limit these rights, including through rules that prohibit “political” messages in stadiums.
Journalists could face added risks. In the United States, authorities have escalated actions against media seen as critical, while Mexico remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalists in the region, the report said.
Amnesty also flagged risks of discrimination, particularly for LGBTQI+ communities and fans from countries facing travel restrictions. Some supporter groups have already indicated they may avoid visible participation due to safety concerns.
Security measures across host countries drew further scrutiny. Mexico plans to deploy 100,000 personnel, including military forces, while in Canada, rights advocates warned of possible displacement of people experiencing homelessness linked to tournament preparations.
Amnesty said the gap between FIFA’s commitments and realities on the ground is widening.
“This World Cup is very far from the ‘medium risk’ tournament that FIFA once judged it to be,” the report said.
“There is still time to save the 2026 World Cup from becoming a stage for repression and a platform for authoritarian practices,” it added.
Amnesty urged host governments, football authorities, and sponsors to take urgent action to ensure the tournament does not come at the expense of fundamental rights.
