More than 120 human rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Amnesty International, have issued a travel advisory warning foreign visitors about potential risks when traveling to the United States for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. The coalition says supporters, players, journalists and other international travelers could face denial of entry, arbitrary detention and inhumane treatment during the tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
The advisory, released on April 23, 2026, comes as FIFA prepares for the World Cup draw scheduled for December 5, 2025 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where the governing body will also award its first “FIFA Peace Prize.” The organizations say the Trump administration’s policies continue to threaten communities, tourists and fans alike, and urge FIFA to use its influence to push for concrete protections from the U.S. Government.
According to the ACLU’s 2026 World Cup Travel Advisory document dated April 23, 2026, the coalition includes groups such as the Sport & Rights Alliance, Dignity 2026, AFL-CIO, Human Rights Watch, Independent Supporters Council, NAACP, Athlete Ally and Reporters Without Borders. They are calling on FIFA to fulfill its human rights framework for the 2026 World Cup, which requires each of the 16 host cities to develop its own “human rights action plan” to prevent discrimination, support workers’ rights, protect children and combat human trafficking.
The organizations acknowledge that the 2026 World Cup represents an opportunity to implement a new model for FIFA events—one that supports strong workers’ protections, safeguards children’s rights, upholds media freedom and ensures working people and communities benefit from hosting the mega-sporting event. However, they say deteriorating human rights conditions in the United States have put those commitments at risk.
Andrea Florence, executive director of the Sport & Rights Alliance, stated that “workers, athletes, fans and communities make the World Cup possible” and emphasized that the 2026 tournament is the first to begin with human rights criteria embedded in the bidding process. The coalition is pressing FIFA to deliver a World Cup that respects the rights of fans, players, workers, journalists and local communities.
The travel advisory specifically warns of risks including refusal of entry at U.S. Borders, arbitrary detention and inhumane treatment of international visitors. The groups say these concerns are particularly relevant for travelers from countries that may face heightened scrutiny under current U.S. Immigration policies, though the advisory does not list specific countries affected.
FIFA’s human rights framework for the 2026 World Cup was established as part of the bidding process, marking the first time such criteria were required for host nation selection. The framework aims to prevent abuses related to labor practices, discrimination, child protection and human trafficking in connection with the tournament.
The coalition says it is “past time that FIFA use” its influence to address these concerns with the U.S. Government. They argue that as the global governing body of soccer, FIFA has a responsibility to ensure that hosting the World Cup does not come at the expense of fundamental human rights for those involved in or attending the event.
As of the advisory’s release date, the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is scheduled to take place in June and July 2026 across multiple cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The exact match schedule and host city assignments were to be determined during the December 2025 draw in Washington, D.C.
The organizations say they will continue to monitor the situation and engage with FIFA in the lead-up to the tournament to advocate for stronger human rights safeguards. They call on soccer fans, players and stakeholders worldwide to support efforts to ensure the 2026 World Cup upholds the highest standards of human rights protection.
For the latest official updates on the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup preparations and host city developments, readers are encouraged to consult FIFA’s official communications and the verified human rights action plans being developed by each of the 16 host cities as required under the tournament’s human rights framework.
What are your thoughts on the balance between hosting major international sporting events and ensuring human rights protections for all participants and visitors? Share your perspective in the comments below.
