# Amnesty International Sounds Alarm on Human Rights Risks for 2026 World Cup **Amnesty International** has issued a stark warning regarding the upcoming **2026 FIFA World Cup**, labeling the potential human rights landscape a 'human rights emergency,' especially within the United States. In a comprehensive report titled "Humanity Must Win: Defending Rights, Tackling Repression at the 2026 FIFA World Cup," the organization details a range of risks impacting fans, players, local communities, and media personnel across the three host countries. ## U.S. Faces Scrutiny Over Policing and Immigration Practices With three-quarters of the tournament's matches slated for the U.S., the report zeroes in on concerns about racial profiling and mass detentions by agencies such as **Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)** and **Customs and Border Protection (CBP)**. Amnesty states that the anticipated joy of the six-week football celebration is 'overshadowed by the reality of violent arrests, mass detention,' and other abuses. Earlier this year, then-acting **ICE** director **Todd Lyons** indicated that **ICE** would be a 'critical component' of security operations. While the full extent of **ICE**'s role remains somewhat ambiguous, **Department of Homeland Security** officials confirmed in May that **ICE** personnel would be offered to local police departments to assist with World Cup security. ## Mexico's Security Deployment Raises Concerns for Protesters In Mexico, federal authorities have announced the deployment of approximately 100,000 security agents, including military personnel, in response to high levels of violence. Amnesty warns that this substantial deployment increases risks for demonstrators, specifically highlighting a movement of 'searching mothers' who plan peaceful protests near **Banorte Stadium** (formerly **Azteca Stadium**) in Mexico City. These groups seek transparency, justice, and reparations for the country's 133,500 registered disappearances. Other mobilizations related to land, water, housing access, and gentrification critiques are also expected. ## Canada Grapples with Housing Displacement Fears The report also touches on Canada, expressing fears that the nation's existing housing crisis could lead to the displacement of unhoused populations in host cities like Toronto due to World Cup activities. ## Recommendations for Host Cities When the report was released in March, **Amnesty International** noted that only four of the 16 host cities had published specific plans for human rights protection during the tournament. The organization strongly recommended that host cities avoid using military forces for civilian security tasks and ensure that World Cup events and venues are not targets for immigration raids. *This story originally appeared on **WIRED en Español** and has been translated from Spanish.*