The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place across three North American countries, has been warned by Amnesty International of potential human rights abuses. The London-based human rights organisation's report, "Humanity Must Win," highlights concerns over fan safety, player protection, and community welfare in host countries the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Amnesty's report expresses alarm over the US's human rights record, citing mass deportations, arbitrary arrests, and aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Despite FIFA's promise of a safe and inclusive tournament, Amnesty notes that the US hosts three-quarters of the 104 matches, increasing the risk of human rights abuses.
The acting director of ICE has stated that the agency will be a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup, fuelling concerns over fan and community safety. Fans from participating nations, including Ivory Coast, Haiti, Iran, and Senegal, face US travel bans, while LGBTQ+ fan groups from England and Europe have expressed fears for the safety of transgender supporters.
Amnesty's report calls for urgent action from FIFA and host countries to address these concerns and ensure a human rights-friendly tournament. The global football governing body stands to earn $11 billion from the tournament cycle, despite criticism over its decision to award a "Peace Prize" to President Trump in December 2025.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America has the potential to become a stage for human rights abuses, and it is imperative that FIFA and host countries take immediate action to address these concerns. The involvement of ICE in the tournament's security apparatus is particularly worrying, given the organisation's history of aggressive operations. The safety of fans, particularly those from the LGBTQ+ community, must be a top priority for the tournament's organisers.
