appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Agence France-Presse

Amnesty International has warned that this summer’s football World Cup, spread across three North American countries, risks becoming a “stage for repression” in a report published on Monday.
The London-based human rights organisation’s report “Humanity Must Win” details what the organisation calls “significant risks” to and which will impact on fans, players, journalists, workers and local communities in all three host countries.
Fifa has promised a tournament where everyone “feels safe, included and free to exercise their rights”.
But Amnesty said that pledge sits in “stark contrast” to conditions on the ground in all three host nations, especially the US, which hosts three-quarters of the 104 matches.
Amnesty described the US as facing a “human rights emergency” under the Trump administration, marked by mass deportations, arbitrary arrests and what it called “paramilitary-style” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
The acting director of ICE said last month the agency would be “a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup”.

This comes despite anger at the killing of two American citizens who were protesting against aggressive ICE raids in Minneapolis in January.
‘Pay the price’
Amnesty said none of the published host city plans addressed how fans or local communities would be protected from ICE operations.
Fans from four nations taking part this summer – Ivory Coast, Haiti, Iran and Senegal – face US travel bans and LGBTQ+ fan groups from England and across Europe have said they would not attend matches in the US, citing risks to transgender supporters in particular.
In Canada, Amnesty International said, a growing housing crisis has increased fears that people experiencing homelessness will be displaced.
“This World Cup is very far from the ‘medium risk’ tournament that Fifa once judged it to be, and urgent efforts are needed to bridge the growing gap between the tournament’s original promise and today’s reality,” the report said.
It concludes: “There is still time to save the 2026 World Cup from becoming a stage for repression and a platform for authoritarian practices.”

Fifa said earlier this month the 48-team tournament – the biggest World Cup in history – would proceed “as scheduled” with all teams taking part, despite uncertainty over Iran’s presence due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The global football governing body, which has been heavily criticised over its decision to award a newly created “Peace Prize” to President Trump in December 2025, stands to earn US$11 billion from the tournament cycle.
“While Fifa generates record revenues from the 2026 World Cup, fans, communities, players, journalists and workers cannot be made to pay the price,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty’s head of economic and social justice.
“It is these people – not governments, sponsors or Fifa – to whom football belongs, and their rights must be at the centre of the tournament.”
The World Cup kicks off on June 11 at the Mexico City Stadium with the final scheduled for July 19 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.


Fok fudges but Hong Kong football chiefs appear ready to make Gianni Infantino their man

Fifa president Gianni Infantino makes an appearance at Under-20 Women’s World Cup

A house divided: Asia still split on Infantino’s future, HKFA won’t say where loyalties lie

Singapore to host Brazil, Japan, Paraguay in star-studded football festival

Fifa

Fifa World Cup risks being ‘stage for repression’, Amnesty International says

The Fifa World Cup trophy on display at BBVA Stadium during a promotional stop in Monterrey, Mexico earlier this month. Photo: EPA

An ICE agent (right) patrols a security checkpoint in Baltimore’s BWI Airport on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

A fake World Cup trophy hangs from a bridge in Mexico City during a demonstration against Fifa before the inauguration of Banorte Stadium (formerly known as Azteca) on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Final phase of 2026 World Cup ticket sales to be sold on first-come, first-served basis

Fifa did not specify how many tickets will be made available for the fourth and final ticket sales phase for the 2026 World Cup. Photo: AP

Fifa President Gianni Infantino said ticket prices have been driven by “insane” demand. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong world champion Ryan Choi set to be part of ‘huge step forward’ for fencing

Ryan Choi is poised to compete in the inaugural World Fencing League in Los Angeles next month. Photo: Elson Li

The World Fencing League is the brainchild of US foilist Miles Chamley-Watson. Photo: Handout

Max Verstappen (left) and Gabriel Bortoleto have seen their sport’s popularity surge because of Netflix documentary Drive to Survive. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Football

Human rights organisation urges football governing body and host nations US, Canada and Mexico to players, fans and communities


Human rights organisation urges football governing body and host nations US, Canada and Mexico to players, fans and communities.


Fifa World Cup 2026

Amnesty International

Fifa World Cup risks being ‘stage for repression’, Amnesty International says

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Human rights organisation urges football governing body and host nations US, Canada and Mexico to players, fans and communities

Human rights organisation urges football governing body and host nations US, Canada and Mexico to players, fans and communities