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Before this Years World CupAmnesty International warned that millions of fans attending the tournament were at risk of attacks on their human rights, especially in the United States. The organization added that the tournament, which will also be held in Mexico and Canada, could be held amid severe restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
In a a report Under the title “Humanity Must Triumph: Defending Rights and Tackling Repression at the 2026 FIFA World Cup”, Amnesty International identifies a range of risks faced by fans, players, locals and media attending the tournament in the three host countries.
In the United States, where three-quarters of the World Cup matches will be held, the report finds that there is a “human rights emergency” characterized by racial profiling and mass detentions by agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
“This World Cup is a far cry from the medium-risk tournament that FIFA once considered it to be,” the organization wrote. “The joy that fans hope to experience during a six-week celebration of football is overshadowed by the reality of violent arrests, mass detention” and other abuses.
Earlier this year, Todd Lyons, then-acting director of ICE He said “It will be ice”Main part“For security during the World Cup. Since then, the extent of ICE’s role has not been fully clarified. But in May, Department of Homeland Security officials He told NBC News ICE offers its employees to local police departments to assist with security during World Cup matches.
Amnesty International’s report indicates that the federal authorities in Mexico announced the deployment of about 100,000 security personnel, including members of the army, in response to rising levels of violence. According to Amnesty International, this decision increases the risks to demonstrators, including the protest movement Search mothers who planned peaceful protests near the Estadio Banorte (formerly Estadio Azteca) in Mexico City to demand transparency, justice and reparations for the 133,500 recorded disappearances in the country. It is expected that other movements will join this initiative during the tournament, related to access to land, water, housing, and criticism of gentrification.
In Canada, the report indicates that there are fears that the country’s housing problems will lead to the displacement of residents in host cities such as Toronto due to World Cup activities.
When Amnesty International released its report in March, the organization claimed that only four of the 16 host cities had published plans to protect human rights during the tournament. It recommended that host cities avoid using military forces for civilian security tasks, and stressed that local authorities must ensure that World Cup events and venues are not subject to immigration raids.
This story originally appeared on WIRED in Spanish It was translated from Spanish.
