Millions of soccer supporters are set to flock to the US this summer for the FIFA World Cup, with 39 days of high-stakes matches expected.
The tournament begins on June 11 with Mexico taking on South Africa, but conversation around the event has extended well beyond what will happen on the pitch.
With games due to be staged across the US, Canada and Mexico, a new report warns that the US is facing a ‘human rights emergency’ and that ‘troubling attacks’ could occur, linking the concerns to the country’s immigration approach.
The report, Humanity Must Win: Defending rights, tackling repression at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, argues that fans from immigrant backgrounds may face increased dangers when traveling to matches or even assembling to follow the tournament.
Steve Cockburn, Head of Economic and Social Justice at Amnesty International and the author of the report, said: “The US Government has deported more than 500,000 people from the USA in 2025 – more than six times as many people than will watch the World Cup final in the MetLife Stadium.
“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 in the US, which will certainly extend to fans who want to take part in World Cup celebrations.”
The report also claims that only four of the 16 host cities have released human rights plans so far, while entry requirements could prevent some supporters from attending matches in the first place.
It states that fans traveling from the Ivory Coast, Haiti, Iran and Senegal cannot enter the US unless they already held valid visas before January 1, 2026. It also says some visitors could have their social media reviewed for alleged ‘anti-Americanism’.
Cockburn added: “Despite the astounding numbers of arrests and deportations, neither FIFA nor the US 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.
“This World Cup is no longer the ‘medium risk’ tournament that FIFA once judged it to be – whether it is to protect people from ICE, guarantee the right to protest or prevent homelessness, urgent action is needed to make sure the reality of this World Cup matches its original promise.”
The tournament also arrives amid wider international instability. Iran’s Football Association is reportedly in talks with FIFA about playing its World Cup matches outside the US, following last month’s joint US-Israel strike on the Middle Eastern country.