Amnesty International has raised concerns that this summer’s football World Cup, spanning the United States, Canada, and Mexico, could turn into a “stage for repression,” according to a report released Monday.
Titled “Humanity Must Win”, the London-based human rights organisation urged both FIFA and the host nations to take swift measures to safeguard fans, players, and local communities.
FIFA has pledged a tournament where everyone will “feel safe, included and free to exercise their rights.”
However, Amnesty warned that this commitment is in “stark contrast” to realities across all three host countries, with the US, set to host three-quarters of the 104 matches, particularly under scrutiny.
The report describes the US as experiencing a “human rights emergency” under the Trump administration, citing mass deportations, arbitrary arrests, and what it called “paramilitary-style” operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The acting director of ICE confirmed last month that the agency will play “a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup.”
These concerns follow public outrage over the deaths of two American citizens protesting ICE raids in Minneapolis in January.
– ‘Pay the price’ –
Amnesty noted that none of the host city plans detail how fans or local residents will be shielded from ICE actions.
Travel restrictions also threaten participation: fans from Ivory Coast, Haiti, Iran, and Senegal face US bans, while LGBTQ+ supporters from England and other European countries have announced they will skip US matches, citing risks for transgender attendees.
“This World Cup is very far from the ‘medium risk’ tournament that FIFA once judged it to be, and urgent efforts are needed to bridge the growing gap between the tournament’s original promise and today’s reality,” the report stated.
FIFA confirmed earlier this month that the 48-team event, the largest World Cup in history, will go ahead “as scheduled,” although Iran’s participation remains uncertain amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
The governing body, criticized for awarding its new “Peace Prize” to President Trump in December 2025, is projected to earn $11 billion from this World Cup cycle.
“While FIFA generates record revenues from the 2026 World Cup, fans, communities, players, journalists and workers cannot be made to pay the price,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty’s head of economic and social justice.
“It is these people, not governments, sponsors or FIFA, to whom football belongs, and their rights must be at the centre of the tournament.”
The 2026 World Cup begins on June 11 at Mexico City Stadium, with the final set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
