Fifa risks becoming “a public relations tool of an increasingly authoritarian US government,” human rights organisations have warned as they call on football’s international governing body to do more to protect the rights of residents and supporters at next summer’s World Cup.
With concerns rising over the possibility of local communities and travelling fans being subjected to immigration raids or arbitrary detention during the tournament, the Sport and Rights Alliance has made seven requests for action from Fifa before Friday’s World Cup draw in Washington. The key demand is that Fifa “commit to ensuring effective protections against racial profiling, arbitrary detention, and unlawful immigration enforcement during the tournament”.
“While Fifa and host cities prepare for the World Cup, the Trump administration is escalating dangerous policies which put immigrant communities, foreign visitors and residents at risk,” said Jamil Dakwar, director of the human rights programme at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). “The perception and impression that you get is that Fifa is dragging itself into becoming part of a public relations tool to normalise an increasingly authoritarian US government. That is a real concern and we’re very troubled about that.”
Daniel Norona, the Americas advocacy director at Amnesty International USA, said there was a “high possibility” of immigration raids being conducted during World Cup fixtures. “Attending a soccer match should never result in arbitrary detention or deportation,” Norona said. “The threat of excessive policing, including immigration enforcement, at World Cup venues are deeply troubling, and Fifa cannot be silent. Fifa must obtain binding guarantees from US authorities that the tournament will be a safe space for all, regardless of political stance, opinion or immigration status.”
Ninety US civic organisations wrote a letter to Fifa in June urging the organisation to use its leverage as World Cup-organisers to push the Trump administration into guaranteeing the safety of local people and visitors. “We call on Fifa to use its influence to encourage the US government to guarantee the fundamental rights of the millions of foreign visitors and fans who seek entry to the United States to attend the tournaments, and the constitutional rights of the many immigrants who already live, work, and contribute meaningfully to the cities selected to host them,” the letter read. Jennifer Li of Dignity 2026, one of the letter’s signatories, said no reply had been received to the correspondence.
Under the general provisions of its statutes, Fifa insists it is “committed to respecting all internationally recognised human rights and shall strive to promote the protection of these rights and has been approached for further comment. As has the US State Department. Last week a department spokesperson told the Guardian: “We are doing everything we can to support a successful World Cup. At the same time, the Trump Administration will not waver in upholding American law and the highest standards of national security”.
