Amnesty warns World Cup travelers in U.S.

Amnesty International and more than 120 civil society groups warned this week that some 2026 World Cup travelers to the United States could face detention, denial of entry, profiling and surveillance. (amnesty.org) (aclu.org) The advisory was issued by Amnesty, the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups ahead of the tournament that opens June 11, 2026, in Mexico City and ends July 19, 2026, in New York New Jersey. (aclu.org) (fifa.com) The groups said the warning covers risks tied to U.S. immigration enforcement, policing, restrictions on protest, attacks on reproductive care, and laws affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people. (aclu.org) (amnesty.org) Amnesty said fans could encounter what it called abusive and deadly U.S. immigration policies, especially at borders, airports and in host cities where federal and local law enforcement overlap. (amnesty.org 1) (amnesty.org 2) The coalition said Muslims, Black people, people of color, protesters, LGBTQI+ people, pregnant people seeking medical care, and travelers from countries hit by U.S. visa or entry restrictions face added exposure. (aclu.org) (davisvanguard.org) The warning also presses FIFA to publish concrete protections for fans, workers, journalists and local residents, and to explain how complaints will be handled during the tournament. (amnesty.org 1) (amnesty.org 2) FIFA awarded the 2026 tournament to the United States, Mexico and Canada after the bid included human-rights commitments, and Amnesty has argued for months that those promises are now at risk. (amnesty.org 1) (amnesty.org 2) U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been sending the opposite message, publishing World Cup travel guidance and saying it approved more than 1 million Electronic System for Travel Authorization requests from qualified nations in fiscal 2026's first quarter. (cbp.gov) (cbp.gov) The White House has criticized the campaign as scare tactics, according to media reports, while rights groups say travelers need advance notice to assess legal and practical risks before booking trips. (msn.com) (aclu.org) With six weeks until kickoff, the dispute is no longer about stadiums and visas alone, but about whether the host country can deliver the fan protections FIFA promised on paper. (amnesty.org) (fifa.com)