We want a World Cup without fear, without raids, and without violations of human rights,” Méndez stated. “Fans come to watch soccer stars, not to run into ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’” declared one spokesperson, making an ironic reference to the immigration detention center in the Everglades, which remains heavily criticized by human rights groups. No official FIFA action has been taken to alter US hosting as of early February 2026. The US hosts the majority of matches (including the final) across 11 cities, with massive economic stakes—billions in revenue for FIFA, cities, and sponsors.
- Starting now, we need to push international sports federations to put in writing how their politics and policies will change to ensure the safety of not only tourists, but the players, coaches, and their families.
- The US’s “market share” of global travel has shriveled, falling from 12.8 percent in 2015 to 9.1 percent today.
- According to the 2026 World Cup rulebook, FIFA have the right to 'cancel, reschedule or relocate one or more matches (or the entire FIFA World Cup 26) for any reason at its sole discretion, including as a result of force majeure or due to health, safety or security concerns.'
- We want a World Cup without fear, without raids, and without violations of human rights,” Méndez stated.
- Due to a contract clause, it's possible they could lose those rights if FIFA deem the situation to be serious enough.
- Critics, including former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, have urged fans to “stay away” from US matches, citing safety risks and authoritarian tendencies.
The US Could Face Loss of 2026 World Cup Hosting Rights Due to Little-Known FIFA Clause
Civil rights advocates demand FIFA ban ICE from football venues in the U.S., warning that immigration enforcement is scaring away fans, harming attendance, and threatening the reputation of the 2026 World Cup. They warned that the presence of immigration enforcement at stadiums would turn the atmosphere of the tournament into one of surveillance and fear. The activists pointed to recent reports of federal agents being present at Club World Cup matches, a situation they say has discouraged many fans — especially immigrants — from attending games.
Canadian outlet CTV report that Pete Fry of the Green Party and Sean Orr of COPE are set to present a motion calling for ICE agents to be banned from joining the US national team if they play matches on Canadian soil this summer. The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both of whom were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis this year, have sparked debate over the role of ICE under Trump and the safety of fans this summer. But it is perhaps the widespread deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the US that has caused the most concern for football fans ahead of the tournament. Days before, the CBP posted on social media, "CBP will be suited and ready to provide security for the first round of games." The post was later removed.
FIFA in Focus
If we continue acting like a pariah nation and a rogue state, then the rest of the world should act accordingly by boycotting World Cup matches taking place in the US. The very real fear is that their compatriots’ identification cards could be seized, and they could end up, without a trial, in some grim ICE gulag in perpetuity. Leaders from these countries realize that they can no longer guarantee the safety of their citizens, should they attempt to enter the United States. It’s no wonder that Canada, alongside numerous European countries, have issued travel advisories for the United States.
"We will make sure we get as much heads-up as possible, so that small businesses and large businesses — and citizens — will get ample information from us about what to expect (and) how to maintain your own dignity and rights," the mayor said. If the city becomes aware that ICE is bringing in extra support, other than the two field offices already stationed in the Atlanta metro, they will alert businesses. "I can't predict what a federal government will attempt to do at 11 sites of World Cup matches across the United States," Dickens said. When asked about ICE presence at the World Cup in Atlanta by a reporter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Dickens said the potential that Atlanta could be a new focal point for ICE was "unsettling."
Dickens addresses ICE during World Cup-related news conference
- Advocacy groups and concerned community members made a list of demands for FIFA as they fear the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement might deter some international fans from showing up to the World Cup matches in Miami next year.
- The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June to July 2026, faces growing speculation about whether the US could be stripped of its primary hosting role.
- Not only were there conversations around potential boycotts, but a group of United Kingdom MPs called for the US to be kicked out of the World Cup, which they are set to host alongside Canada and Mexico.
- On Feb. 3, Dickens and the City of Atlanta announced coordinated resources for small businesses to help during "major global events," notably the World Cup.
- Canadian outlet CTV report that Pete Fry of the Green Party and Sean Orr of COPE are set to present a motion calling for ICE agents to be banned from joining the US national team if they play matches on Canadian soil this summer.
- "It is unlikely that FIFA – the organisation that awarded its first global peace prize to Trump – would strip the US of its hosting rights. It would likely take an extreme turn of events for that to happen."
The ongoing Club World Cup, hosted in Miami-Dade, has been marked by low turnout and growing anxiety within immigrant communities. Previous reporting in August from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution found it was one of the most active field offices in the nation, accounting for a particularly high number of arrests. There is already a major ICE field office in Atlanta, off Ted Turner Drive SW in downtown, which oversees operations in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. A spokesperson for the agency also did not provide a timeline for when more agents may be stationed there. At the end of January, ICE confirmed a new field office would soon be operating in College Park, but a specific location was not disclosed. Dickens said the city will have an inclusive tournament "despite somebody's presence that I'm not inviting to come."
Calls for boycotts have also come from UK MPs (in non-binding motions), German soccer figures, and human rights advocates, who argue the tournament’s unifying spirit is undermined. Blatter endorsed warnings from anti-corruption experts who described the US as too dangerous for visitors amid domestic uproar and immigration crackdowns. Force majeure clauses in such contracts typically cover uncontrollable events like natural disasters, wars, riots, sanctions, or other disruptions beyond the parties’ control. Speaking in an interview with SPORTbible, a Professor
betista casino of Sports Law at the University of Melbourne claimed it was 'unlikely' FIFA will exercise their termination clause, but it could happen in 'an extreme turn of events'.
Human rights concerns cast shadow over 2034 World Cup
It’s not just global soccer fans tuned in to the US’s recent depravities who are harboring serious concerns. What about fans from countries like Iran, which just qualified for the 2026 World Cup? “It should be a celebration of global unity where fans and workers alike feel respected and safe.” "We hope that their presence will be small, unnoticeable, negligible, invisible — and maybe nonexistent."
For them, ensuring that immigrant communities can participate without fear is not just a moral imperative—it’s a condition for the success and integrity of the tournament itself. As preparations continue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, rights advocates are sounding the alarm. “This World Cup must not become a place of fear and detention,” said Paul Christian Namphy of Family Action Network Movement (FANM). Attorney Will Mann of the Community Justice Project warned that the 287(g) program turns local law enforcement into extensions of ICE. “These programs are causing chaos, fear, and uncertainty across our communities,” she added.
Critics, including former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, have urged fans to “stay away” from US matches, citing safety risks and authoritarian tendencies. This stems from a combination of political controversies under the Trump administration and a specific provision in FIFA’s hosting regulations that grants the organization significant discretion over the event. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June to July 2026, faces growing speculation about whether the US could be stripped of its primary hosting role.
The activists directly urged FIFA to take a stand on these concerns, arguing that its international reputation is at stake. A general exterior view of the signage at Levi's Stadium, host venue for the FIFA World Cup 2026 The situation underscores the intersection of geopolitics and global sport, where FIFA’s contractual flexibility could become a focal point if tensions escalate further. Shifting games to Canada or Mexico would disrupt logistics, scheduling, and preparations.
ICE has increased its presence in Atlanta, and a new ICE detention center is slated for construction and operation in Social Circle, Georgia, about 45 miles east of Atlanta. Eight matches will be played in Atlanta beginning in June, including five group stage matches and three from later in the tournament. A World Cup perceived as a venue for repression could tarnish not only the image of the tournament but also that of the host nation.
Advocacy groups and concerned community members made a list of demands for FIFA as they fear the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement might deter some international fans from showing up to the World Cup matches in Miami next year. Sports law professor Jack Anderson from the University of Melbourne has described the prospect of FIFA fully stripping the US of hosting rights as “unlikely,” stating it would demand “an extreme turn of events.” He emphasized FIFA’s close ties with the current US administration—including the awarding of a “global peace prize” to President Trump—as a factor making drastic action improbable. "It is unlikely that FIFA – the organisation that awarded its first global peace prize to Trump – would strip the US of its hosting rights. It would likely take an extreme turn of events for that to happen." As next year’s World Cup matches near and immigration enforcement ramps up across the country, activists and advocates are calling on FIFA to take action. Thomas Kennedy, policy director at the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FIC), said the presence of immigration agents is driving fans away. The call comes after reports of ICE presence at Club World Cup matches sparked fear among fans and left stadiums nearly empty, despite a $46 million investment by the county.
Trump then alienated many nations set to compete in the biggest international tournament with his travel ban list, attempted purchase of Greenland, and threats of tariffs against European nations. “Cancel, reschedule or relocate one or more matches (or the entire FIFA World Cup 26) for any reason at its sole discretion, including as a result of force majeure or due to health, safety or security concerns.” Preparations are already underway, with organizers establishing infrastructure and logistics in the host cities.
The expert continued to say that 'under the contracts in place, FIFA has broad powers to unilaterally terminate the arrangement with the host country and city.' The Netherlands, England, Germany, among other countries, may think twice about boycott plans after a little-known rule has emerged. There is still a possibility that FIFA could strip the United States of America of the privilege of hosting this summer's World Cup due to Donald Trump's actions. “Under the contracts in place, FIFA has broad powers to unilaterally terminate the arrangement with the host country and city, but it would take an ‘extraordinary’ justification,” These events have fueled debate over whether FIFA should reconsider the US as host. In January 2026, a total of 23 UK MPs signed a motion calling for international sporting organizations to rethink US involvement in major events, such as the World Cup.
The US ‘Could be Stripped’ as 2026 World Cup Hosts Due to Little-Known FIFA Rule
Although force majeure clauses exist in contracts for major sporting events, there is currently no indication that FIFA plans to strip the United States of its 2026 World Cup hosting rights. “It is unlikely that FIFA — the organization that awarded its first global peace prize to Trump — would strip the US of its hosting rights. If invoked, FIFA and the host country could legally terminate or modify the hosting agreement, including relocating matches. The US ceded its position as top destination for global travel in 2018, halfway through Trump 1.0, sliding behind countries like France and Spain in terms of international visitors. Countless soccer fans across the globe are planning on entering the United States in droves for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by North America, with games being staged in Mexico, Canada, and primarily the United States.
During a press conference held outside FIFA’s offices in Miami, spokespersons for several non-governmental organizations demanded guarantees of an environment free from immigration enforcement operations during the tournament. Activists are pressuring FIFA to ensure the 2026 World Cup remains free from immigration enforcement operations that could intimidate immigrant fans Despite this, it is unlikely that this will happen, given the US’s influence in international sports and the fact that it is a co-host country. FIFA could have the ability to revoke the United States of its hosting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if a little-known contract clause is invoked.
