Amnesty International has cautioned that the 2026 FIFA World Cup could become “a stage for repression and a platform for authoritarian practices” unless host nations act swiftly to safeguard human rights.
The tournament, spanning the US, Canada, and Mexico, will see 78 matches played in American venues, including the final in New Jersey.
Amnesty’s report highlights risks ranging from US immigration enforcement and travel bans, to violence in Mexico and housing displacement in Canada.
Steve Cockburn, Amnesty’s head of economic and social justice, said: “This World Cup is no longer the ‘medium risk’ tournament FIFA once judged it to be. Urgent action is needed to ensure the reality matches its promise.”
Amnesty insists that governments, FIFA, and sponsors must prioritize fans, players, workers, and local communities, warning that only four of 16 host cities have published human rights plans so far.
