Human Rights Soccer Alliance (HRSA) says players, families and fans are being detained, deported and driven away from the game – the risks to the FIFA World Cup 2026 are urgent

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The Human Rights Soccer Alliance this week launched a report on the impact of immigration on soccer in the United States. ‘Fear, Intimidation and the World Cup’ warns that intensified immigration enforcement is reshaping soccer communities across the country and will create unprecedented human rights risks during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The report documents 17 cases involving soccer players, coaches, parents and supporters who have been detained or deported since January 2025. Many were detained during routine immigration check-ins, while travelling to matches, attending soccer events, or supporting their children’s participation in the game.

The report also highlights a wider climate of fear: youth sessions cancelled, families withdrawing children from programmes, players disappearing from teams, and supporters changing or cancelling matchday activity because of immigration enforcement.

The report warns that soccer spaces are not insulated from enforcement. Schools, parks, community centres, sports facilities, stadiums and youth tournaments have all been affected. In some cases, immigration activity near fields has led to cancelled training sessions and sharp drops in participation.

World Cup at Risk

The risks to the World Cup are evident in the fact that ICE arrested at least 92,392 people in and around World Cup host cities between 20 January and 15 October 2025.

Evan Whitfield, Chair of the Human Rights Soccer Alliance and former US international, said:

“This is an emergency. The communities that built the game in the United States are now being made to feel unsafe in the very spaces where they should belong. Soccer should be a sanctuary, not a site of intimidation.

“For the World Cup we have seen no urgency from FIFA, host cities or the government to ensure the tournament is safe for all. In fact there are now announcements from some host cities that ICE will be playing a role at venues and in cities.”

The report argues that the 2026 FIFA World Cup, promoted as a celebration of unity and inclusion, risks becoming a flashpoint unless urgent protections are put in place. Host cities are already sites of active immigration enforcement; current safety assurances remain informal and non-binding.

Risking Exposure

HRSA warns that without binding guarantees, even at this last stage, World Cup stadiums, fan zones, training sites, transport hubs and surrounding areas will expose undocumented residents, mixed-status families, workers, supporters and international visitors to enforcement, surveillance, racial profiling or data-sharing.

The report calls on FIFA to secure binding guarantees prohibiting immigration enforcement in and around all World Cup sites, ensure equitable visa access, protect freedom of expression, and prevent data-sharing between event security and immigration authorities.

It also calls on U.S. Soccer, Major League Soccer, professional leagues, grassroots organizations and players to adopt clear safety protocols, protect personal data, provide rights education, and support affected communities.

The report concludes that immigration enforcement is no longer an external political issue for soccer. It is determining who can safely play, watch, work in and belong to the game.

HRSA immigration guidance to protect young players

A guide for grassroots soccer clubs, coaches, and youth-training organizers to protect young players from immigration-related harassment and enforcement encounters.

The guidance lays out what every coach, club, and league should know:

*️⃣ Legal rights of young players regardless of immigration status

*️⃣ Responsibilities of adult supervisors

*️⃣ How to navigate team travel and vehicle stops

*️⃣ What steps to take if a young athlete is detained

👋🏼 About the Human Rights Soccer Alliance

The Human Rights Soccer Alliance has come together to form an active, informed and high-level group of leaders in the soccer industry.

We are former players, lawyers, nonprofit and NGO directors, academics, and community activists. All of us are passionate about soccer, all of us are focused on positive impact for communities of color, women, and other marginalised groups in the US.

In the coming year we will seek to ensure rights are enforced at the 2026 World Cup and that the benefits of the World Cup are shared for all. Specifically, we want to make sure human rights impacts on people of color are mitigated, and identify the legacy for football development and economic empowerment in communities.

✍🏼 Contact info@humanrightssoccer.com for more information