Human Rights Watch Sounds Alarm on 2026 World Cup as US Immigration Crackdown Threatens Fans and Journalists

Human Rights Watch (HRW) is ringing alarm bells about the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, set to be hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. In a detailed 79-page reporter’s guide released ahead of the June 11 kickoff, HRW exposes how the tournament’s promise of global unity is at odds with harsh immigration policies, media repression, and discrimination, especially within the US host cities.

The guide, titled “Reporter’s Guide for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States,” accuses FIFA of failing to uphold its human rights commitments made during the original bid. HRW’s director of global initiatives, Minky Worden, bluntly states the event risks being defined by “exclusion and fear” rather than the inclusive spectacle FIFA touts.

Central to HRW’s concerns is the US government’s aggressive immigration enforcement. Data obtained via a freedom of information request reveals that between January 20 and March 10, 2025, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested at least 167,000 people in and around the 11 US cities hosting World Cup matches. Those perceived as immigrants based on skin color, language, or workplace face heightened risk. HRW demands FIFA push the Trump administration for an “ICE Truce” — a public pledge to halt immigration raids at games and venues during the tournament.

The report also highlights a deteriorating environment for journalists covering immigration and protests. In Atlanta, a World Cup host city, Emmy-winning journalist Mario Guevara was arrested in June 2025 while filming a political protest, then transferred to ICE custody and deported to El Salvador. More recently, journalist Estefany Rodriguez was reportedly arrested without a warrant while covering ICE raids. HRW documents multiple instances of US officers using tear gas, pepper balls, and flash-bang grenades against protesters and reporters, raising serious concerns about press freedom during the event.

HRW does not spare FIFA from criticism. The organization condemns FIFA’s decision to award President Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December 2025 as blatant sportswashing. Moreover, HRW reports that all but one of the World Cup host city committees have either failed to produce promised human rights action plans or issued plans that ignore critical issues like immigration enforcement and media repression.

Mexico, hosting matches in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey, presents additional dangers. It remains one of the deadliest countries for journalists, with seven killed in 2025 alone, according to press freedom group Article 19. HRW notes FIFA has neglected to address the risks journalists face there, including threats linked to organized crime and corruption.

In a letter dated April 6, HRW pressed FIFA President Gianni Infantino on protections for journalists, including protocols for responding to detentions or deportations. FIFA’s vague response claimed existing mechanisms to handle human rights incidents but offered no specifics.

The 2026 World Cup is shaping up as a glaring example of how global sporting events can gloss over, or even amplify, systemic abuses. Instead of a celebration of diversity and unity, HRW warns fans, players, and journalists alike may confront a tournament overshadowed by fear, repression, and exclusion — particularly under the Trump administration’s heavy hand on immigration and civil rights.

This is not just a sports story. It is a human rights test that FIFA and the US government must answer before the world arrives.