Human Rights Watch urges FIFA to secure an "ICE truce” for the 2026 World Cup

With less than a year remaining before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling on world football's governing body to intervene with the U.S. administration to temporarily suspend aggressive immigration enforcement operations during the tournament, Reuters reports.

Pressure to protect fans and participants

In a report, HRW urges FIFA to pressure U.S. federal authorities to establish an "ICE truce” - a temporary pause in actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) near stadiums, fan zones, and official events.

The organization argues that the measure should include:

suspending immigration raids and arrests during matches;

protecting freedom of movement for supporters, athletes, and journalists;

preventing racial profiling and arbitrary detention;

guaranteeing freedom of expression and assembly.

Tense political context

The request comes amid the strict immigration policies promoted by President Donald Trump's administration, which has intensified deportations and border enforcement.

Human rights groups warn that these policies may create a climate of fear for:

international tourists;

migrant communities;

ethnic minorities;

workers involved in organizing the tournament.

Amnesty International and other organizations have already warned that the tournament risks drifting away from FIFA's promise of a "safe, secure, and inclusive” event.

The tradition of the "Olympic Truce”

HRW's proposal is inspired by the historic tradition of the Olympic Truce in ancient Greece, when conflicts were temporarily suspended to allow sports competitions to take place safely.

HRW argues that a similar measure is necessary to ensure:

participant safety;

respect for human rights;

preventing the World Cup from becoming associated with political tensions and civil rights controversies.

U.S. authorities' response

The White House and the Department of Homeland Security have stated that their priority is organizing "the safest tournament in history,” insisting that law-abiding visitors have no reason for concern.

U.S. officials reject accusations of systematic abuse and maintain that security measures will comply with the U.S. Constitution.

HRW also criticized the close relationship between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump, particularly following FIFA's decision to award the American leader a peace prize in December.

The organization warns that without clear safeguards, the tournament risks being perceived as another form of "sportswashing,” where the image of sport is used to overshadow political controversies and human rights concerns.

The 2026 World Cup will be the largest edition in the competition's history, featuring 48 teams and millions of spectators.

In this context, pressure on FIFA to demonstrate that it respects its own human rights commitments is greater than ever.

For HRW, the stakes go beyond football: they concern the ability of global sport to protect fundamental freedoms in an increasingly polarized political climate.