The US facing human rights emergency is underlined in a new Amnesty International report, warning that harsh immigration enforcement, restrictions on peaceful assembly, and limits on freedom of expression threaten fans, athletes, and local communities alike.
Amnesty International emphasises that ICE enforcement, mass detentions, and arbitrary arrests have created a climate of fear that may extend to visitors, athletes, and international fans attending matches across the United States this summer.
The report details how Dallas, Houston, and Miami have signed agreements with ICE, raising concerns about local law enforcement collaborating with federal agents in ways that threaten safety, privacy, and civil liberties of fans and residents.
Travel bans enacted under the Trump administration prevent visitors from certain countries, including Haiti, Iran, Senegal, and Cote d’Ivoire, from entering the US unless visas were issued before January 2026, creating major obstacles for international supporters.
Social media surveillance proposals for visitors further increase concerns, with plans requiring access to personal accounts for vetting, while fans may face arbitrary questioning, detentions, or monitoring if their views are considered politically sensitive or “anti-American.”
Amnesty International highlights how the US government deported over 500,000 people in 2025 alone, exceeding six times the expected World Cup final audience, demonstrating the scale of enforcement and risks for visiting communities during the tournament.
The report warns that immigrant communities traveling to matches may face additional threats due to heightened law enforcement scrutiny, racial profiling, and aggressive immigration raids, which could limit participation and create unsafe environments for spectators.
Restrictions on peaceful protest are also a major concern, with demonstrations in US cities increasingly curtailed or dispersed, making it difficult for activists, journalists, and residents to express political opinions safely, particularly around World Cup venues.
Mexico, as another host nation, has mobilised over 100,000 security personnel, including military forces, to address potential violence, but Amnesty International cautions that this militarisation risks repressing legitimate protests and creating unsafe conditions for demonstrators.
Women activists planning peaceful demonstrations for the opening match at Estadio Azteca face potential police interference, highlighting concerns about government responses to demands for justice, accountability, and recognition for victims of disappearances and other abuses.
Canada’s role as a host country raises additional issues, with housing crises and impacts from past events like the 2010 Winter Olympics showing risks of displacing vulnerable populations, particularly people experiencing homelessness during the tournament.
Authorities in Toronto recently closed a winter warming centre reserved for vulnerable populations, citing pre-booking by FIFA, showing how preparations for global events can limit access to essential services and heighten social inequalities.
Protests linked to the ongoing Gulf and Israel-Palestine conflicts present further risks, as all three host countries have shown restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, which may be enforced against both citizens and visiting fans.
Amnesty International emphasises that urgent action is needed to ensure that FIFA delivers a tournament where participants feel safe, included, and free to exercise their rights, highlighting potential failures in hosting obligations and international standards.
The Trump administration’s targeting of foreign-born students protesting actions in Gaza and aggressive enforcement of immigration policies has created an environment of fear that may extend to World Cup spectators, teams, and support staff.
US citizens involved in protests monitoring immigration enforcement have faced violent responses from federal agents, with reports of deaths and injuries highlighting the severity of enforcement measures and the risks to civil liberties during large events.
In Canada, authorities have dispersed protests related to Gaza, showing that similar limitations on peaceful assembly exist across host nations, reinforcing Amnesty International’s concern that international events may exacerbate repression of political expression.
Residents in Mexico have protested disruptions linked to World Cup infrastructure, including rising costs, gentrification, and access to resources like water, demonstrating that large-scale sporting events can amplify local grievances and social tensions.
Amnesty International stresses that militarisation of security in Mexico for the World Cup raises the potential for excessive force against demonstrators, potentially violating rights to assembly and creating fear among communities around match venues.
The report calls on FIFA and host governments to implement concrete protections for fans, activists, and local communities, including safeguards against racial profiling, unlawful detention, forced deportation, and interference with freedom of speech or assembly.
Human rights concerns also extend to economic displacement, as large-scale stadium projects and infrastructure upgrades can marginalise vulnerable populations, limiting access to housing, essential services, and community resources during the tournament.
Immigration enforcement and travel restrictions may prevent certain fans from attending matches, reducing the inclusivity of the World Cup and reinforcing inequalities, with particular concern for communities historically targeted by restrictive policies in the United States.
Amnesty International urges transparency and accountability, noting that current agreements with ICE, CBP, and local law enforcement lack oversight mechanisms, leaving room for arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement against residents, visitors, and protest participants.
The organisation stresses that the record-breaking scale of deportations and arrests is only possible due to erosion of due process protections, undermining liberty and security rights for hundreds of thousands of migrants and visitors alike.
FIFA has previously committed to a safe and inclusive World Cup, but Amnesty International notes that without immediate interventions, the tournament risks failing to protect fans, athletes, journalists, and residents from human rights violations during matches and associated events.
International fans may also face logistical challenges due to visa restrictions, intrusive security checks, and monitoring requirements, with the potential for arbitrary denial of entry or access to stadiums, limiting participation in global sporting celebrations.
Amnesty International points to previous tournaments, noting that human rights violations often accompany global events, and stresses that lessons must be learned to prevent repetition of systemic abuses during the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The report concludes that urgent reforms are required, including legal safeguards, oversight of immigration enforcement, protection of protest rights, and measures to ensure equitable treatment for all communities, aligning with FIFA’s public commitment to inclusivity.
FIFA and host governments are urged to engage with human rights organisations, community groups, and affected populations to implement meaningful protections that ensure fans feel safe, respected, and free to express themselves throughout the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup presents a unique opportunity to demonstrate respect for human rights, but Amnesty International warns that without immediate action, enforcement practices, travel bans, and repressive policies could overshadow the global celebration of sport.
Amnesty International calls on the US, Mexico, and Canada to ensure that the tournament is truly inclusive, noting that protecting human rights is essential not only for visitors and athletes but also for the credibility of FIFA as an organisation.
The US facing human rights emergency ahead of the 2026 World Cup is a call for urgent action, emphasising that safety, inclusion, and civil liberties must not be secondary to logistical or security priorities during the event.
Global scrutiny of host countries provides an opportunity to hold governments accountable, with Amnesty International recommending robust monitoring of enforcement, transparent reporting mechanisms, and accessible complaint channels for fans, residents, and visitors.
Without intervention, the combination of restrictive immigration policies, mass detentions, arbitrary arrests, and limits on protest could leave communities and visitors vulnerable, threatening FIFA’s stated commitment to a tournament where everyone feels safe, included, and free.
FIFA and local authorities must recognise that sports events cannot be separated from social and political realities, and that fans’ experiences, human rights, and civil liberties are integral to the success and credibility of the 2026 World Cup.