Amnesty International has issued a warning that the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, may become a direct threat to fans due to the "abusive and deadly" immigration policies in the United States, as well as restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful protest in the three countries.
The organization's new report titled "Humanity Must Prevail: Defending Rights and Combating Repression at the FIFA World Cup 2026" states that millions of fans attending the matches face "alarming risks" to their human rights, despite the FIFA commitment to making the tournament "safe, welcoming, and inclusive for all."
Event Details
The report highlights that the United States, which will host three-quarters of the tournament matches, is experiencing a "human rights emergency" under President Donald Trump's administration, characterized by discriminatory immigration policies, mass detentions, and arbitrary arrests carried out by masked and armed agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other federal agencies.
According to the report, Steve Cockburn, head of the Economic and Social Justice Program at Amnesty International, stated that the U.S. government "deported over 500,000 people in 2025, which is more than six times the number of people expected to attend the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium."
Background & Context
Cockburn added that the "unprecedented surge in arrests and unlawful deportations could only occur due to the erosion of due process guarantees, undermining the rights of hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees to freedom and security, tearing apart communities and creating a climate of fear across the United States." He warned that these conditions "will inevitably affect fans wishing to participate in the World Cup celebrations."
The report noted that many U.S. cities hosting the World Cup have been directly affected by the crackdown on migrants and human rights. It mentioned that in June 2025, President Trump activated federal authority to deploy around 4,000 National Guard members in Los Angeles in response to protests against immigration raids.
Impact & Consequences
The report also pointed out that other host cities, such as Dallas, Miami, and Houston, have entered into "problematic" agreements allowing local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE, which enhances racial profiling and targeting of migrants, thus "reducing public safety" according to the organization.
In Mexico, the report indicated the mobilization of 100,000 security personnel, including military forces, to confront high levels of violence, warning that the "militarized nature" of the security deployment increases the risks of suppressing protests during the tournament, including protests planned by activists demanding truth and justice in cases of enforced disappearances, coinciding with the opening match at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Regional Significance
In Canada, the organization discussed rising concerns over worsening housing and homelessness crises in host cities, noting that the experience of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the subsequent rise in prices and evictions "raises concerns that homeless individuals may be forced to displace again." The report highlighted that Toronto authorities closed a winter warming center that housed the homeless on March 15, after the site was reserved for use by FIFA.
According to an analysis conducted by the New York Times based on government data, which the Amnesty International report referenced, the United States deported over 500,000 people in 2025, including 230,000 apprehended within the country and 270,000 at the border, which the organization claims often occurred "in violation of the principle of non-refoulement" to other countries with which they have no ties, where they face the risk of prolonged arbitrary detention.
The organization noted that federal agents operating in a "quasi-military" style targeted Latino, Black, Asian, and other communities of color, with violent and arbitrary detentions that included children near homes, schools, and workplaces.
With millions of fans expected to travel to North America for the tournament, and large numbers of migrant communities residing in the United States gathering to watch the matches, the organization views that ICE and CBP pose a "terrifying threat" to residents, visitors, and even players.
It noted that travel bans implemented by the Trump administration will prevent fans from Iran, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and Haiti from entering the United States to support their teams unless they have obtained valid visas before January 1, 2026. It also warned against proposals requiring visitors to disclose their social media accounts for scrutiny regarding what is deemed "anti-American."
The report states that World Cup tournaments often attract widespread protests, but it warned that a wave of restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in the United States, Canada, and Mexico threatens these rights.
In the United States, the report indicated that the Trump administration specifically targeted foreign students participating in protests against the Israeli war on Gaza, noting that American citizens were shot dead by federal agents while protesting against the violence of immigration raids or documenting them.
In Canada, the organization observed a wave of protests and student camps opposing the war on Gaza, some of which were dispersed by police "without sufficient justification." Meanwhile, in Mexico, the report discussed protests organized by residents in host cities due to disruptions in water supply, difficulty accessing land, and rising prices, warning that the heightened security nature could lead to "further suppression of protests" during the tournament.