Amnesty International has warned that the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, risks becoming a "stage for repression" due to security and policing plans. The human rights organization's report, titled "Playing it Safe? Human Rights Risks and the 2026 FIFA World Cup," was published on March 24, 2026.
The report highlights concerns over the potential misuse of surveillance technology, the criminalization of protests, and discriminatory policing, particularly targeting racialized communities, migrants, and homeless populations. It cites past events like the 2010 G20 summit in Toronto and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar as examples of rights violations during major international gatherings.
Amnesty calls on FIFA and the host cities to implement human rights policies, ensure freedom of expression and assembly, and avoid deploying invasive surveillance tools. FIFA has stated it is committed to human rights but faces pressure to ensure its policies are enforced locally.
