More than 120 North American associations, including the influential ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), have warned foreign fans, players and journalists about significant risks of human rights violations if they travel to the United States during the 2026 World Cup.
In a document entitled “Notice to Travelers”, the organizations draw attention to the possibility of arbitrary denial of entry into the country, detention without legal guarantees, deportations and inhumane treatment, in the context of the immigration policy adopted by President Donald Trump’s government.
According to the ACLU statement, fans, athletes, media professionals and other visitors may suffer serious violations of their rights, as the Trump administration intensified its draconian agenda against immigration and human rights.
The entities that signed the document made a direct appeal to the International Football Federation (FIFA), requesting that the organization use its influence to pressure the North American government and demand concrete changes in migration policies, in addition to clear guarantees of protection for all people involved in the event.
The director of the ACLU’s human rights program, Jamil Dakwar, said it is more than necessary for FIFA to take an active stance and use its institutional weight to demand tangible commitments, so that people can feel safe traveling and attending World Cup matches.
According to the warning released by the organizations, foreign visitors who intend to attend the World Cup in the United States may be subject to arbitrary denial of entry into North American territory, the risk of arrest, prolonged detention or deportation, as well as invasive inspection of social networks and electronic devices by immigration authorities.
Violent and unconstitutional enforcement of immigration laws
The document also points to the possibility of violent and unconstitutional application of immigration laws, including inspections based on racial profiling, in addition to the risk of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment during detention, and even the possibility of death in the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE).
Faced with these warnings, FIFA responded with a statement in which it stated that, in accordance with article 3 of its Statutes, it is committed to respecting and promoting all internationally recognized human rights.
The entity highlighted that several documents related to the 2026 World Cup, as well as the creation of a Consultative Group on Human Rights, composed of independent experts, and the promotion of a Human Rights Complaints Mechanism, demonstrate its commitment to the protection of these rights in all key activities of the tournament and for all actors involved.
The fear among fans is reinforced by the fact that, of the 104 games scheduled for the 2026 World Cup, 78 will be played in the United States, the country that co-organizes the event alongside Canada and Mexico. The migratory restrictions imposed by the North American government generate particular concern among fans from countries such as Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast, already qualified for the tournament, whose citizens may face additional obstacles to entering the country.
Although Washington claims that these measures do not affect tourist visas, which in theory would allow the entry of fans who have tickets to the games, FIFA had to implement an accelerated procedure for requesting interviews at consulates, without any guarantee that the visa would be granted.
Furthermore, many fans are wary of traveling to the United States due to ICE operations aimed at detaining and deporting foreigners in irregular immigration status.
In January, the murder of two protesters in Minneapolis, in the north of the country, shot down by federal agents, provoked a wave of indignation and reinforced concerns regarding the excessive use of force by authorities, increasing the climate of apprehension surrounding the holding of the World Cup in North American territory.
With AFP
