Amnesty warns World Cup visitors of immigration fears in US host cities

Amnesty raises concerns over tournament conditions

Amnesty International has warned that the 2026 World Cup could bring major human rights concerns for people attending and working around the tournament, according to Daily Star journalist Jerry Lawton. In a 36 page report titled Humanity Must Win, the organization says the event may be overshadowed by immigration enforcement, restrictions on protest, and pressure on vulnerable communities in the three host countries, the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The group says the situation is especially serious in the United States, where most of the tournament matches are scheduled to be played. Amnesty described the country as facing a “human rights emergency” under President Donald Trump, pointing to immigration raids, deportations, and what it said were arbitrary arrests involving armed federal agents. Rather than the welcoming atmosphere FIFA has promised, Amnesty said some supporters could instead encounter fear and uncertainty while traveling to matches or gathering in host cities.

Focus falls on US immigration enforcement

According to the Daily Star article, Amnesty argues that immigration policy in the United States is one of the central risks surrounding the tournament. The group said more than 500,000 people were deported in 2025, including both people detained inside the country and people removed at the border. Amnesty claimed the pace and scale of those removals were made possible by weakened due process protections, with long term consequences for migrant and refugee communities.

Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s head of economic and social justice, 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.”

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He also said, “These policies have torn communities apart and created a climate of fear throughout the USA.”

Amnesty further alleged that federal operations have disproportionately affected Latino, Black, Asian, and other communities of color. According to the report cited by the Daily Star, the organization said people, including children, have been arrested near homes, schools, and workplaces. The group also warned that international visitors may face extra scrutiny through visa rules and social media screening.

Host cities and local communities under pressure

The report, as described by the Daily Star, says several World Cup host cities have already felt the effects of federal enforcement policies. Amnesty pointed to Los Angeles, where President Trump deployed 4,000 California National Guard troops in June 2025 after protests over immigration raids. It also raised concerns about cooperation agreements between local law enforcement and ICE in cities such as Dallas, Houston, and Miami.

Amnesty said those arrangements could increase racial profiling, damage trust between residents and police, and make communities less safe overall. The organization’s warning extends beyond match going supporters, arguing that people living in host cities may be affected just as much as tourists arriving for the competition.

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The group also said FIFA and public authorities have not yet provided enough reassurance. According to the Daily Star report, only four of the 16 host cities had published human rights plans at the time of writing, and Amnesty said none of those plans clearly addressed the risk of abusive immigration enforcement.

Mexico and Canada face separate risks

Amnesty’s concerns are not limited to the United States. According to the Daily Star piece, the organization said Mexico has deployed 100,000 security personnel, including troops, in response to cartel related violence. That security environment, Amnesty warned, could create additional risks for demonstrators, including women planning a peaceful protest at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City over missing relatives.

In Canada, Amnesty linked tournament preparations to broader social pressures, particularly housing and homelessness. The report referred to the legacy of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and said there are fears that unhoused people could once again be pushed out of public view during a major international event. The Daily Star article also noted that authorities in Toronto closed a winter warming center on March 15 because the venue had been reserved for FIFA use.

Taken together, Amnesty’s argument is that each host nation faces a different version of the same problem, major sporting events can place extra strain on communities that are already vulnerable if protections are not clearly established in advance.

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FIFA faces pressure before kickoff

Amnesty says FIFA must act quickly if it wants the 2026 World Cup to match its public commitments on safety and inclusion. According to the Daily Star report, the group believes the tournament can no longer be viewed as a medium risk event. Instead, it says urgent measures are needed to protect people from abusive immigration enforcement, safeguard the right to protest, and prevent the displacement of marginalized groups.

Cockburn said, “While FIFA generates record revenues from the 2026 World Cup, fans, communities, players, journalists and workers cannot be made to pay the price.”

An Amnesty spokesperson added, “Human rights must remain at the heart of the tournament.”

The central message from the organization is that the success of the World Cup should not be judged only by attendance, sponsorship, or revenue. According to Amnesty, it should also be measured by whether the people around the event, from local residents to visiting supporters, are able to take part safely and freely.

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Sources: Daily Star, Jerry Lawton, Amnesty International

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