Amnesty warns of 'huge' human rights risks at 2026 World Cup

LONDON, March 31 : Millions of fans heading to the 2026 World Cup face significant human rights risks, Amnesty International said, warning that the tournament is drifting far from the "safe, free and inclusive" event originally promised by world soccer's governing body FIFA.

With just over 10 weeks until the June 11 kickoff in Mexico, the human rights group said the United States, which will host three-quarters of the matches, was experiencing a "human rights emergency" driven by mass deportations, aggressive immigration enforcement and restrictions on protests.

"There are huge risks around this tournament," Steve Cockburn, Amnesty's head of economic and social justice, told Reuters. 

"This does not feel like ... the safe, free, and equal World Cup and the inclusive World Cup that was promised eight years ago when it was awarded, but also may be quite different from how it felt even just 18 months ago.

"It's a deeply troubling time in the U.S., which will certainly extend to fans who want to take part in World Cup celebrations."

The U.S., Mexico and Canada will co-host the finals.

FIFA has been contacted for comment.

MASS ARRESTS AND DEPORTATIONS

Amnesty said more than 500,000 people were deported from the U.S. last year, more than six times the capacity of New Jersey's MetLife Stadium which hosts the final. 

The group said mass arrests and deportations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies had torn communities apart and could spill into World Cup celebrations.

Amnesty called on FIFA to use its "enormous leverage" with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to secure public guarantees that immigration enforcement would not take place around stadiums, fan zones, watch parties or other