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East Rutherford Today
By the People, for the People
Amnesty Warns of 'Huge' Human Rights Risks at 2026 World Cup in North America
Rights group calls for FIFA to secure guarantees on immigration enforcement, protests, and LGBTQ+ protections ahead of tournament.
Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:52pm
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The 2026 World Cup in North America faces a complex web of human rights challenges that could disrupt the tournament's promised inclusivity and safety.East Rutherford TodayAmnesty International has raised significant concerns about human rights risks facing fans attending the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The group warns of mass deportations, aggressive immigration enforcement, and restrictions on protests in the host countries, calling on FIFA to use its influence to secure public guarantees to protect the safety and rights of all attendees.
Why it matters
The 2026 World Cup is expected to be the largest in history, with over 5 million tickets sold. Amnesty's warnings highlight the potential for the tournament to be marred by human rights abuses and crackdowns, undermining FIFA's promises of a 'safe, free and inclusive' event. The group's calls for action put pressure on FIFA and the host nations to address these issues before the tournament kicks off.
The details
Amnesty says the U.S. is experiencing a 'human rights emergency' driven by mass deportations, with over 500,000 people deported last year. The group fears this could spill over into World Cup celebrations, with the potential for arbitrary arrests and deportations around stadiums and fan zones. In Mexico, the planned deployment of 100,000 security personnel, including 20,000 troops, raises concerns about military abuses and the suppression of protests. Amnesty also highlighted issues in Canada, where efforts to 'beautify' host cities could lead to the forced displacement of homeless people.
- The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to kick off on June 11.
- Amnesty International released its warnings about human rights risks in March 2026, just over 10 weeks before the tournament begins.
The players
Amnesty International
A global human rights organization that has raised concerns about the potential for human rights abuses and crackdowns at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
FIFA
The international governing body of association football, which awarded the 2026 World Cup to the United States, Mexico, and Canada and has been called on by Amnesty to use its influence to secure guarantees of safety and rights for fans.
Donald Trump
The President of the United States during the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, whose administration's policies on immigration enforcement and protest rights are a source of concern for Amnesty.
What they’re saying
“There are huge risks around this tournament. This does not feel like ... the safe, free, and equal World Cup and the inclusive World Cup that was promised eight years ago when it was awarded, but also may be quite different from how it felt even just 18 months ago.”
— Steve Cockburn, Head of Economic and Social Justice, Amnesty International
“We need clear assurances there will be no ICE presence around venues so people can attend without fear of arbitrary arrest or deportation.”
— Steve Cockburn, Head of Economic and Social Justice, Amnesty International
What’s next
Amnesty International has called on FIFA to use its 'enormous leverage' with the U.S. administration to secure public guarantees that immigration enforcement and restrictions on protests will not disrupt the 2026 World Cup. The group also wants FIFA to ensure that planned protests in Mexico are allowed and facilitated, and that bans on fans from certain countries are lifted.
The takeaway
The 2026 World Cup in North America faces significant human rights risks that threaten to undermine FIFA's promises of a 'safe, free and inclusive' tournament. Amnesty International's warnings highlight the need for the governing body and host nations to take concrete steps to protect the rights and safety of fans, or risk the event being marred by abuses and crackdowns.
