For the first time since 2014, the men’s FIFA World Cup is being held in three democratic countries. Yet the tournament is taking place amid numerous human rights abuses. It is time for FIFA, the organizer of the event, to finally adopt an independent voice and denounce these violations.
Paris, 11 June 2026 – The men’s FIFA World Cup is the largest global sporting event. This year, it is even bigger than ever, with 48 participating teams—16 more than in previous editions—a tournament extended by 10 days, three host countries, and thousands of supporters travelling from around the world. Yet the competition that FIFA officials, the governing body of world football, described as “the most inclusive event on the planet” is beginning under the worst possible circumstances.
Among the three host countries—Mexico, Canada and the United States—the latter will host the vast majority of World Cup matches: 78 in total, including both semi-finals and the final. Since taking office in January 2025, Donald Trump and his administration, driven by a white supremacist, sexist, transphobic and xenophobic ideology, have implemented particularly aggressive policies targeting entire segments of the population. Immigrants, people of colour, transgender people, human rights defenders, women and girls have all been affected by measures restricting their fundamental rights.
Fans Denied Visas
Several teams will have to compete without the support of their fans in the stadiums, unless those supporters hold dual citizenship. Haitians, Iranians, Ivorians and Senegalese nationals, for example, are simply barred from entering the United States. For citizens of other countries, visa fees have become so exorbitant—reaching up to USD 15,000—that travelling to the United States is effectively impossible.
Incidents have already been reported. Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, voted Africa’s best referee in 2025, was denied entry into the United States on 6 June in Miami despite holding a valid visa, following an extremely lengthy interrogation. Canadian officials publicly indicated their willingness to host Mr. Artan, but FIFA ultimately confirmed that he would not be allowed to officiate during the tournament. Needless to say, FIFA did not protest.
Aymen Hussein, star striker of the Iraqi national team, a national hero in Iraq and a member of a family that suffered under the Islamic State, was detained for seven hours at Chicago airport and subjected to highly intrusive questioning.
“After World Cups in Russia and Qatar, we could have welcomed the return of the tournament to democratic countries,” said FIDH President Alexis Deswaef. “But what we are witnessing is far removed from our understanding of democracy. It is high time FIFA remembered its universal values and that football is, first and foremost, about passion and shared emotions, not about money. FIFA must have an independent voice and denounce the abuses of the Trump administration.”
Another blind spot for FIFA compounds these violations: this World Cup is yet another climate disaster, following the Qatari edition with its air-conditioned stadiums in the middle of the desert. The vast distances travelled by teams and supporters by air could largely have been avoided through an organisation that genuinely took environmental concerns and climate change into account.
On 19 July, whichever team lifts the trophy, the world will watch President Donald Trump raise it alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. By then, his silence in the face of human rights violations will be more eloquent than ever.
