Human Rights Watch fears a World Cup of exclusion and fear in the United States | OneFootball

Human Rights Watch warns that fans, journalists and visitors to the World Cup from 11 June to 19 July in the United States, Canada and Mexico risk detention, deportation or discrimination.

According to L'Équipe, the NGO flags concerns over US entry, the right to protest and press freedom, saying Donald Trump’s anti-immigration policy risks a tournament defined by exclusion and fear for migrants and visitors.

Maja Liebing of Amnesty International said travellers to the United States could face detention, deportation or discrimination in a rights landscape shaped by Trump administration policies.

In its briefing, Human Rights Watch says FIFA’s response has been timid and that it has not used its influence with Washington. It notes Gianni Infantino was the only sports leader at Trump’s inauguration and last year gave him a FIFA Peace Prize created for the occasion, with no criteria disclosed.

Many fans fear travelling to the United States this summer because of ICE raids, the agency tasked with arresting and deporting undocumented foreign nationals. Using US government data, it counted more than 167,000 arrests in the 11 American host cities between early 2025 and early 2026.

It also cites the arrest, detention and deportation by ICE of an asylum seeker who travelled with his children to the 2025 Club World Cup final in New Jersey. Supporters of Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire could be unable to attend because of US travel bans.

Source: L'Équipe