World Cup attendees warned about human rights violations
By: Ricardo Kaulessar
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... Amnesty Intentional is warning that soccer fans attending the upcoming 2026 FIFA world Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States may have their human rights violated.
....
The human rights organization said on March 29 [2026] that World Cup attendees in the three countries face crackdowns on "freedom of expression and peaceful protest" that run counter to the "Safe, welcoming and inclusive" tournament promised by FIFA.
..... The organization's new report, "Humanity Must Win: Defending rights, tackling repression at the 2026 FIFA World Cup,: singles out the United States, where three-quarters of the World Cup matches will be held saying that under President Donald Trump, it has enacted mitigation policies that have led to mass detentions and deportations and arbitrary arrests by federal agents.
..... MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford will be the site of several matches during the ornament, which rums from June 11 to July 19, [2026] including the final.
..... "The U.S. government has deported more than 500,000 people from the USA in 2025 - nearly eight times as many people than will watch the World Cup final in the MetLife Stadium." said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International's head of economic and social justice. "The record-breaking surge of unlawful arrest and deportations has only been possible because of the erosion of due process safeguards, undermining the rights to liberty and security of hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees.
.....
"These policies have tron communities apart and cerated a climate of fear throughout the USA," he said. "It's a deeply troubling time in the U.S., which will certainly extend to fans who want to take part in the World Cup celebrations."
..... Cockburn said four of the 16 host cities have so far published their human rights plans, and "none of those that have done so to date say anything about protection from abusive immigration enforcement."
..... "This world Cup is no longer the 'medium risk' tournament that FIFA once judged it to be - whether it is to protect people from ICE, guarantee the rights to protest, or prevent homelessness, urgent actions is needed to make sure the reality of the Wold Cup matches its original promise," Cockburn said.