Travelling World Cup fans ‘vulnerable to serious harm’ in the USA, according to civil rights groups

News

Martin Macdonald | Author

Some sections of travelling World Cup fans will be "vulnerable to serious harm" in the United States, according to several civil rights organisations.

More than 120 civil society groups and MLS and NWSL-affiliated fan groups have published a travel advisory document to travelling fans of immigrant backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people and racial and ethnic minority groups warning them of the potential treatment they face in the USA, who will host the World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada this summer.

The message issues a stark warning to everyone from fans, to players, to the media: "exercise caution and have an emergency contingency plan." This call to action stems from the group’s concerns regarding an escalation of violence and authoritarianism under the Donald Trump administration.

There has been violence on the streets of the country after the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers under Trump. Since the beginning of 2025, 48 people have died while in ICE custody and in January, two American citizens - Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti - were shot and killed by ICE agents.

The advisory publication has highlighted six factors of concern:

- The arbitrary denial of entry and risk of detention and/or deportation

- Expanded limitations on travel and entry into the U.S.

- Invasive social media screening and searches of electronic devices

- “Violent and unconstitutional” immigration enforcement, including racial profiling and other discrimination

- “Suppression” of speech and protest

-Serious risk of mistreatment while being held in immigration detention facilities

“FIFA has been paying lip service to human rights while cozying up with the Trump administration, putting millions of people at risk of being harmed and their basic rights violated,” said Jamil Dakwar, human rights program director of the American Civil Liberties Union.

“The Trump administration’s abusive actions continue to threaten our communities, tourists, and fans alike — and it’s past time that FIFA uses its leverage to push for meaningful policy changes and binding assurances that will make people feel safe to travel and enjoy the games.”

Jennifer Li, who leads Dignity 2026, an organisation that seeks to save certain immigrants from deportation, said: “The spectre of immigration enforcement this summer has become the leading concern among grassroots organisations across host cities.

“Irrespective of their focus area — housing, labour, immigration — this issue has become a galvanising topic. With less than two months to go, we are still waiting for public commitments from FIFA and host city organisers about plans to protect residents, workers, and visitors. The silence has been deafening.”

Pointing to "troubling attacks on human rights", Amnesty International previously claimed that the "starkest threat" to visitors to the World Cup may be "the machine of abusive, discriminatory and deadly immigration enforcement and mass detention in the USA".

The organisation warns that "severe restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful protest" threaten the "safe, welcoming and inclusive" event promised by FIFA.

For example, some tourists travelling to the United States, including millions of football fans set to descend on the country next year, have been forced to provide five years worth of social media activity in order to pass border control.

FIFA responds

In response to the advisory document sent to travelling fans, a FIFA spokesperson cited the organisation’s human rights strategy, stating that:

“As per article 3 of the FIFA Statutes, FIFA is committed to respecting all internationally recognised human rights and shall strive to promote the protection of these rights.

“The development and publication of the FWC2026 Sustainability and Human Rights Strategy, the FWC2026 Human Rights Framework, and the recently updated FIFA Statement on Human Rights Defenders and Media Representatives as well as the establishment of an FWC2026 Human Rights Advisory Group comprised of independent experts and the wide advertisement of the FIFA Human Rights Grievance Mechanism, are all evidence of FIFA’s commitment to human rights across all key activities and actors connected to the tournament.”

In its 36-page report titled 'Humanity Must Win: Defending rights, tackling repression at the 2026 FIFA World Cup', Amnesty called on the USA, Canada and Mexico to "meet their obligations under international human rights law, while Fifa, national FAs and sponsors all have clear responsibilities to respect human rights…"

"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", said Amnesty's head of economic and social justice Steve Cockburn.

"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 FootballTransfers app

Check out FootballTransfers' new app for all of football's big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.

The FootballTransfers app is available in the Apple App Store. Download here:

•App Store