In its 36-page report titled ‘Humanity Should Win: Defending rights, tackling repression on the 2026 FIFA World Cup’,, exterior Amnesty calls on the host international locations’ governments to “meet their obligations beneath worldwide human rights legislation, whereas Fifa, nationwide FAs and sponsors all have clear obligations to respect human rights…”
“The US authorities has deported greater than 500,000 folks from the USA in 2025, greater than six instances as many individuals than will watch the World Cup last within the MetLife Stadium”, stated Amnesty’s head of financial and social justice Steve Cockburn.
“…It is a deeply troubling time within the US, which will definitely prolong to followers who wish to participate in World Cup celebrations.”
Final month, the appearing head of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated that the company is “a key a part of the general safety equipment for the World Cup”, vowing it was “devoted to making sure that everybody that visits the services could have a protected and safe occasion”.
Earlier this 12 months, ICE brokers shot and killed two Americans as a part of US president Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
Trump has despatched federal brokers, in addition to the Nationwide Guard, to main US cities over the previous 12 months to make good on his marketing campaign promise to crack down on unlawful immigration. They’ve been met with protests and authorized challenges in Democrat-led cities like Portland, Los Angeles and Chicago.
“Regardless of the astounding numbers of arrests and deportations, neither Fifa nor the US authorities have offered any ensures that followers and native communities might be protected from ethnic and racial profiling, indiscriminate raids, or illegal detention and deportation,” stated Cockburn.
“Solely 4 of the 16 host cities have to date revealed their human rights plans, and none of people who have finished so thus far say something about safety from abusive immigration enforcement.
“This World Cup is now not the ‘medium threat’ event that Fifa as soon as judged it to be – whether or not it’s to guard folks from ICE, assure the fitting to protest or forestall homelessness, pressing motion is required to verify the fact of this World Cup matches its authentic promise.”
Amnesty says that ICE and different companies “pose a chilling menace to folks dwelling within the US, these touring to see a sport, and gamers themselves”.
It added: “Followers face intrusive surveillance, with proposals to pressure guests to make their social media accounts out there for vetting, and screening for “anti-Americanism”.
In January, fan group Soccer Supporters Europe (FSE) instructed BBC Sport it was “extraordinarily involved by the continuing militarisation of police forces within the US” earlier than the World Cup”.
On the time, Fifa stated the security and safety of followers and members was its “prime precedence”, including it really works carefully with native authorities “to plan, co-ordinate and ship complete safety measures for the event”.
The White Home’s World Cup Activity Drive stated that the event might be “the most important, most secure, and most welcoming sporting occasion in historical past” and that it was working to ship an occasion “that highlights America’s hospitality, dedication to safety, and spirit of excellence”. It promised that followers “can sit up for a clean, safe, and really unforgettable event”.
Amnesty highlights Mexico’s response to excessive ranges of drug cartel violence, which it says is “elevating dangers for folks protesting”. Earlier this month the World Cup co-host introduced plans to deploy practically 100,000 safety personnel to guard followers at this summer season’s event.
And the marketing campaign group additionally claims that in Canada, a rising housing disaster has “raised fears that folks experiencing homelessness will once more be displaced and pushed additional to the margins”.
Fifa has been approached for remark.
