2026 World Cup: Populations and supporters face serious risks in the United States, warns Amnesty International

Under the presidency of Donald Trump, where three-quarters of the World Cup matches will take place, the United States is at the center of a human rights crisis, as highlighted by the organization in support of a report called “Humanity Must Triumph” released on Monday.

This crisis is characterized by discriminatory immigration policies, mass detentions, and arbitrary arrests by masked and armed agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection, and other agencies, accuses Amnesty.

Despite the staggering number of arrests and deportations, neither FIFA nor the (American) authorities have provided guarantees that fans and local populations will be protected from ethnic and racial profiling, blind raids, and illegal detentions and deportations, notes Steve Cockburn, director of the Economic and Social Justice program at Amnesty International, as cited in the press release.

The 2026 World Cup, taking place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11th to July 19th, will bring together 48 teams, with 78 out of 104 matches scheduled to be held in the United States.

Countries like Iran, Senegal, or Ivory Coast may not be able to rely on their supporters due to travel bans imposed by the Trump administration, which has made anti-immigration policies the focus of its second term.

Other football fans risk facing intrusive surveillance of their social networks for the purpose of searching for ‘anti-American’ content, according to the NGO.

Furthermore, members of LGBTQI+ groups in the UK and Europe have expressed concerns about the dangers of being visibly present during the tournament, along with worries about restrictions on the right to protest and freedom of expression in Mexico and Canada.

With just 10 weeks left until the World Cup kick-off, FIFA’s commitment to organizing a tournament where everyone feels safe, included, and free to exercise their rights requires urgent action to avoid an unfortunate outcome, warns Amnesty International.