Ten weeks before the FIFA World Cup, Amnesty International has released a report regarding the current safety of international fans and local communities. The FIFA World cup is an international soccer tournament spanning six weeks. This summer it is being held in Canada, Mexico and the United States. However, Amnesty claims that “The U.S. – where three-quarters of the World Cup matches will be held – is facing a ‘human rights emergency’ and a recognizable pattern of authoritarian practices.” Given the more recent immigration lockdown in the U.S. by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, there is growing concern for international FIFA fan security.  

While FIFA promises to ensure a tournament where everyone feels safe, Amnesty notes that there is a lack of published descriptions from the U.S. regarding how the country plans on protecting fans from ICE operations. Moreover, according to Amnesty, the acting director of ICE stated that the agency will be “a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup.”  

Furthermore, the U.S. has implemented full travel bans on approximately nineteen countries. Full travel bans suspend the distribution of almost all immigrant and non-immigrant visas. Citizens of these countries who do not already hold a valid visa are generally barred from entry. Of the nineteen countries on ban, four of those countries–Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Iran and Senegal— have qualified to compete in the FIFA World Cup. And while the players from those countries will receive a bypass on the travel ban, it is unlikely that the fans from those countries will be granted the same leeway.  

Since coming into office, the Trump administration has significantly expanded the scope of the travel ban, moving from targeting specific individuals or single countries to restricting nearly 40 nations at once. Additionally, while past presidents usually used short-term “pauses” for specific security fixes, the new presidential administration rules are indefinite and have no set end date.  

Outside of the U.S., Mexico and Canada are also facing domestic challenges that may potentially compromise FIFA fan safety and participation. Mexico is dealing with the fallout from the killing of a major drug lord who led one of the most powerful Mexican criminal organizations. Internal disorder and violence have increased as drug cartels compete to fill the power gap that has now been opened. On the other hand, Canada is facing a huge homelessness crisis, and there is a concern that the potential influx of FIFA supporters will lead to the displacement of the Canadian homeless population. Furthermore, Amnesty reports an increase in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in Canada, including incidents of violence and harassment. 

The actions taken by Amnesty ahead of the tournament are aimed at increasing transparency around the current political climate in host countries—particularly the US—and enabling participating nations to better inform their fan bases about the potential risks of traveling to support their teams. Amnesty’s reporting reflects an underlying concern that the FIFA World Cup could become a platform for the continuation of authoritarian practices in the U.S. Rather than remaining a unifying global event, there is a fear it could be transformed into a stage for repression instead of a game that truly belongs to the people. 

The enormous economic benefit of the World Cup adds another layer of complexity, with FIFA set to earn a record-breaking eleven billion from an event that depends on the labor of marginalized workers and the support of global fans. While host cities and corporate sponsors anticipate billions in regional spending, Amnesty warns that this financial gain is being prioritized over the basic safety of the people who make the games possible. By capitalizing on the tournament’s profitability, the U.S. government and FIFA are turning the World Cup into a commodity, while enforcing policies that could exclude or put at risk the very communities that the game is made for.  

What is needed moving forward is continued advocacy and education so that fans, journalists, and workers can make informed decisions. For the U.S. to successfully draw international crowds, it should present a detailed plan outlining how host cities will ensure the safety of their international guests. However, since ICE is known to work unpredictably and with the use of violence, any precautions aimed at mitigating its actions may ultimately prove ineffective. Therefore, it should be made explicitly clear to FIFA fans, workers, and local communities that these outlined plans cannot fully guarantee safety and should be acknowledged with caution.  

To conclude, the steps being taken by participating nations and by international organizations such as Amnesty to increase transparency can only go so far, but in the end, they fail to address the deeper, systemic issues and the broader authoritarian tendencies at the root of these concerns.