Amnesty International Warns 2026 World Cup Risks Becoming a Stage for Repression

Amnesty International released a report on March 30, 2026, warning that the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, risks becoming a "stage for repression" rather than the safe and inclusive tournament promised by FIFA. The London-based human rights organization titled the 36-page document "Humanity Must Win: Defending Rights, Tackling Repression at the 2026 FIFA World Cup." The report singles out the United States for the sharpest criticism, describing the country as facing a "human rights emergency" under President Donald Trump's administration. The US is scheduled to host 78 (matches) — of 104 total World Cup matches hosted in the US of the tournament's 104 games, making it by far the dominant host nation. Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International's head of economic and social justice, said neither FIFA nor US authorities had provided guarantees that fans and local communities would be protected from ethnic and racial profiling, indiscriminate raids, or unlawful detention and deportation. „While FIFA generates record revenues from the 2026 World Cup, fans, communities, players, journalists and workers cannot be made to pay the price” — Steve Cockburn via France 24

ICE operations cast shadow over fan safety The report describes a pattern of mass detentions and arbitrary arrests by masked, armed agents from ICE, US Customs and Border Protection and other agencies as the defining feature of the human rights emergency Amnesty identifies. Todd Lyons, ICE's acting director, stated last month that the agency will be "a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup," a declaration Amnesty treats as a direct threat to fan safety. The New York Times estimated that more than 500,000 people were deported from the United States in 2025, a figure Steve Cockburn described as "more than six times as many people than will watch the World Cup final in the MetLife Stadium." Two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis in January 2026 during protests against aggressive ICE raids, according to the report. Amnesty also warns that fans face intrusive surveillance, with proposals to require visitors to make their social media accounts available for vetting and screening for what authorities describe as "anti-Americanism." Only four of the 16 host cities have published human rights plans, and none have addressed protection from immigration enforcement, with Dallas, Houston and Miami having signed agreements for local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE, according to the report. „Despite the astounding numbers of arrests and deportations, neither FIFA nor the US authorities have provided any guarantees that fans and local communities will be safe from ethnic and racial profiling, indiscriminate raids, or unlawful detention and deportation” — Steve Cockburn via The Independent

Amnesty International has scrutinized FIFA's human rights record across multiple tournaments. The organization raised sustained concerns before and during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar over labor rights and the treatment of migrant workers. In June 2024, Amnesty called on FIFA to rigorously ensure that bids for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups include binding human rights commitments. FIFA awarded its newly created "Peace Prize" to President Trump in December 2025, a decision that drew heavy criticism from rights groups. The 2026 tournament will be the largest World Cup in history, featuring 48 national teams for the first time.

Four nations' fans barred, LGBTQ+ groups warn of danger Fans from four of the 48 qualifying nations — Ivory Coast, Haiti, Iran and Senegal — face US travel bans or restrictions that will prevent many from entering the country to support their teams. According to the report, citizens of Haiti and Iran are subject to complete entry bans, while supporters from Ivory Coast and Senegal face partial travel restrictions. Travel ban restrictions apply unless affected fans held valid US visas before January 1, 2026. LGBTQ+ fan groups from England and across Europe have said they will not attend matches in the United States, citing risks to transgender supporters in particular. The report also raises concerns about Iran's participation in the tournament itself, given the ongoing US-Israel conflict with the country. FIFA stated earlier in March that the tournament will proceed "as scheduled" with all teams taking part, despite uncertainty over Iran's presence. „The 2026 World Cup threatens to deliver more repression than football. Anyone who protests or expresses criticism must expect repression at the World Cup” — Julia Duchrow via Deutsche Welle

Mexico's 100,000 troops and Canada's homeless crisis draw scrutiny While the United States dominates the report's concerns, Amnesty also raises significant issues in the two co-hosts, Mexico and Canada, each of which is scheduled to stage 13 matches. Mexican authorities have mobilized security personnel, including the military, in response to high levels of violence in the country, a deployment Amnesty flags as a risk to protesters and civil society. A women's group seeking answers about more than 133,000 people listed as disappeared in Mexico is planning a peaceful protest outside the opening match at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. In Canada, authorities in Toronto closed a winter warming center providing shelter for people experiencing homelessness because the venue had been pre-booked for FIFA use. The report also criticizes all three host nations for imposing restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly, citing the dispersal of pro-Palestinian demonstrations and student encampments in Canada. In response, a US State Department spokesperson told The Athletic that safety and security are the top priority of the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 and that preparations have been underway for more than a year. FIFA, which stands to earn $11 billion from the 2026 tournament cycle, reiterated its aim to ensure all participants feel safe, included and free to exercise their rights.

United States: 78, Canada: 13, Mexico: 13