The United States confronts a human rights emergency as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presenting a significant threat to fans and players alike. Severe limits on freedom of expression and peaceful protests across the three host nations—the U.S., Mexico, and Canada—jeopardize FIFA’s pledge for a safe, welcoming, and inclusive event.
Challenges in the United States
The latest report, titled “Humanity Must Win: Defending rights, tackling repression at the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” highlights discriminatory immigration measures, mass detentions, and arbitrary arrests by masked, armed agents from ICE, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other agencies. Immigrant communities risk encounters during travel or gatherings for matches.
Only four of the 16 host cities have released human rights strategies, and none address safeguards against immigration enforcement. Dallas, Houston, and Miami maintain agreements enabling local police to work with ICE.
Fans from Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Iran, and Senegal cannot enter the U.S. without visas obtained before January 1, 2026, due to existing travel restrictions. Others face invasive surveillance, including requirements to share social media for screening against ‘anti-Americanism.’
Neither FIFA nor U.S. authorities guarantee protection from ethnic or racial profiling, indiscriminate raids, or unlawful detentions and deportations for fans and communities. In 2025, the U.S. deported over 500,000 people—exceeding six times the capacity of MetLife Stadium for the World Cup final.
“The record-breaking surge of unlawful arrests and deportations stems from eroded due process protections, violating the rights to liberty and security for countless migrants and refugees. These measures fracture communities and foster widespread fear. Fans planning to join World Cup festivities face real dangers,” stated Steve Cockburn, Head of Economic and Social Justice at Amnesty International.
Security Concerns in Mexico
Mexico deploys 100,000 security forces, including military units, amid elevated violence levels. This approach heightens dangers for protesters, such as women activists set to demonstrate peacefully at the opening match in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, demanding justice for disappeared relatives.
Housing and Displacement Issues in Canada
Canada grapples with legacies from the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and an intensifying housing shortage, sparking concerns over displacement of homeless individuals. On March 15, Toronto authorities shuttered a winter warming center to prepare the site for FIFA use.
Risks to Protests and Expression
World Cups frequently draw demonstrations, particularly amid global tensions like the Gulf conflict and Israel-Palestine issues. All host countries impose restrictions on expression and assembly rights. The U.S. targets foreign-born students protesting Gaza events and has seen U.S. citizens killed by federal agents during immigration enforcement protests. Canadian police have dispersed Gaza-related gatherings. In Mexico, locals protest World Cup preparations over water shortages, land access, costs, and gentrification.
The militarized security in Mexico raises fears of further protest suppression. Urgent measures remain essential to ensure everyone feels safe, included, and able to exercise their rights during the tournament.
