2026 FIFA Men's World Cup

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup was promoted as the largest and most inclusive tournament in history – 48 teams competing in 16 host cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with billions of spectators worldwide. But FIFA’s weak response to the threats to human rights caused by the Trump administration’s brutal immigration crackdown means the tournament risks being defined by exclusion and fear. Human Rights Watch's work looks in detail at the human rights conditions in the three host nations and FIFA’s inadequate efforts to respond to risks in the United States, drawing in detail from Human Rights Watch reporting. The 2026 World Cup risks becoming a sportswashing bonanza for the Trump administration and a platform for abusive policies targeting immigrants and visitors, showcasing racism, exclusion, fear, and discrimination.