Amnesty International has warned that millions of fans travelling to the 2026 FIFA World Cup could face significant human rights risks, saying the tournament is drifting away from the “safe, free and inclusive” event originally promised by football’s governing body, FIFA.
With just over 10 weeks until the June 11 kickoff in Mexico, the rights group said the United States — which will host about three-quarters of the matches — is experiencing what it described as a “human rights emergency,” driven by mass deportations, aggressive immigration enforcement and restrictions on protests.
“There are huge risks around this tournament,” Steve Cockburn, Amnesty’s head of economic and social justice, told Reuters. “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. It’s a deeply troubling time in the U.S., which will certainly extend to fans who want to take part in World Cup celebrations.”
The United States, Mexico and Canada will jointly host the tournament.
Amnesty International said more than 500,000 people were deported from the United States last year — a figure it noted is more than six times the capacity of New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, which will host the final.
The organisation said mass arrests and deportations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies had disrupted communities and could extend into World Cup-related events.
It urged FIFA to use its “enormous leverage” with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to secure guarantees that immigration enforcement will not take place near stadiums, fan zones, watch parties or other tournament venues.
“We need clear assurances there will be no ICE presence around venues so people can attend without fear of arbitrary arrest or deportation,” Cockburn said, adding that authorities should ensure planned protests are allowed and facilitated.
Amnesty also called for restrictions on fans from Senegal, Ivory Coast, Haiti and Iran to be lifted, and for stronger protections for LGBTQ+ supporters travelling to the tournament.
In Mexico, where authorities have announced the deployment of around 100,000 security personnel, including 20,000 troops, Amnesty warned that heavy militarisation could lead to abuses and the suppression of protests.
Cockburn said Mexico has a long history of human rights violations linked to military deployments, including enforced disappearances and torture. He also noted that local residents have already protested against gentrification, housing displacement and water shortages linked to World Cup preparations.
Women’s groups are planning a march on the opening day of the tournament in Mexico City to demand justice for missing relatives, a demonstration Amnesty urged authorities to allow and protect.
In Canada, the group raised concerns that World Cup preparations in cities including Vancouver and Toronto could worsen conditions for homeless people, warning that efforts to “beautify” host cities may lead to forced displacement from encampments.
It cited parallels with the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and pointed to the recent closure of a Toronto winter warming centre due to FIFA-related venue use.
A White House spokesperson said the tournament would bring major economic benefits, adding: “The President is focused on making this the greatest World Cup ever while ensuring it is the safest and most secure in history.”
Canada’s Public Safety Ministry said the country remained committed to hosting a tournament “that reflects our values of respect for human rights, inclusion, and the rule of law,” and that officials were working across government and law enforcement to ensure the event is secure and welcoming.
There was no immediate response from authorities in Mexico.
Amnesty said it was not advising fans to avoid the tournament, but urged travellers to be informed about potential risks.
“We’re not saying don’t go. We’re not saying don’t enjoy it,” Cockburn said. “I really hope the fans do go and enjoy it. But it’s about knowing the reality and making those judgements.”
Boluwatife Enome
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