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Human rights groups have warned that visitors to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup could face arbitrary detention or deportation as immigration policies tighten, Reuters reports. The warning, issued less than two months before the start of the competition, is signed by dozens of organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP.
• Political context and civil rights concerns
The sporting event takes place against a backdrop of a tense backdrop, marked by the strict immigration policies promoted by the Donald Trump administration, as well as concerns about the erosion of federal protections for racial minorities and the LGBTQ community. According to the signatory organizations, fans, players, journalists and other participants could be exposed to practices such as racial discrimination, searches of electronic devices or even treatment considered cruel or inhumane in immigration detention centers.
• Vulnerable groups, most exposed
NGOs warn that people from immigrant communities, racial and ethnic minorities, as well as members of the LGBTQ community are "most vulnerable to serious harm” when traveling to the United States. In this context, the organizations recommend that visitors exercise caution and prepare emergency plans before traveling. In a statement, the ACLU emphasized FIFA's role in guaranteeing respect for human rights during the tournament. "FIFA has a unique influence at this time to exert pressure on the US government to respect the fundamental human rights of everyone visiting and attending matches, as well as for those working and living in the 11 host cities in the United States,” the organization said. The ACLU said it, along with members of the Dignity 2026 Coalition, has called for FIFA to intervene, but so far no guarantees have been provided that are considered sufficient.
• FIFA's response
In an official statement, FIFA reaffirmed its commitment to human rights. "In accordance with Article 3 of the FIFA Statutes, FIFA is committed to respecting all internationally recognized human rights and will work to promote the protection of these rights,” the organization said, noting the existence of mechanisms and advisory groups dedicated to this area. The warnings follow concerns previously expressed by Amnesty International, which said in a statement in March that the tournament was falling short of its original promise to be a "safe, free and inclusive” event.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington had no objection to Iranian players participating in the 2026 World Cup, but added that the players would not be allowed to come accompanied by people with ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Reuters reports.
"Nobody from the United States has told them they can't come,” Rubio told reporters. President Donald Trump also said his administration "wouldn't want to hurt the athletes.” The 2026 World Cup will start on June 11 in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Paolo Zampolli, a Trump emissary with no official connection to the World Cup, had previously suggested that Italy should replace Iran at the tournament. "The problem with Iran would not be their athletes. It would be some of the other people they would like to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC. We may not be able to let them in, but we cannot let the athletes themselves in,” Rubio said. "They can't bring a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend to be journalists and sports coaches,” Rubio added. Washington has designated the IRGC a "foreign terrorist organization.” After the outbreak of the war with Iran, Iran asked FIFA to move its U.S. team's three group stage matches to Mexico, a request that was rejected.
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