Amnesty International has warned that players heading to this summer’s World Cup in North America could face a “chilling threat” from ICE agents in a “human rights emergency.” The 2026 tournament will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The organization also claims that FIFA may not be able to deliver on the “safe, welcoming and inclusive” atmosphere promised for the competition. In a report titled Humanity Must Win, Amnesty International highlights President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration policies, noting that much of the World Cup will be held in the U.S.
Amnesty alleges human rights risks due to “discriminatory immigration policies, mass detentions and arbitrary arrests by masked, armed agents from ICE, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other agencies.” Fans traveling to the U.S. may face entry issues, while immigrant communities could also face risks while traveling across the country.
Dallas, Houston, and Miami have agreements for local law enforcement to work alongside ICE. Fans from Ivory Coast, Haiti, Senegal, and Iran will not be able to travel to the U.S. unless they had valid visas before January 2026, due to Trump-era travel bans.
Steve Cockburn, Head of Economic and Social Justice for Amnesty International, said: “Despite the astounding numbers of arrests and deportations, neither FIFA nor the U.S. 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. The record-breaking surge of unlawful arrests and deportations has only been possible because of the erosion of due process safeguards, undermining the rights to liberty and security of hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees. These policies have torn communities apart and created a climate of fear throughout the USA. It’s a deeply troubling time, which will certainly extend to fans who want to take part in World Cup celebrations.”
In Mexico, over 100,000 security personnel have been mobilized due to high levels of violence. In Canada, a Toronto winter center for the homeless was closed for FIFA use.
The warning comes after a fan died at Estadio Banorte after falling from a box seat ahead of Mexico’s friendly against Portugal. The Mexico City Public Prosecutor’s Office is conducting post-mortem procedures, reviewing CCTV footage, and collecting statements to determine the cause and potential liability.
