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Unions and human rights organisations have warned the 2026 FIFA World Cup must not come at the cost of workers’ rights, migrant communities and human decency.
Credit: Angel Faz, created for No ICE in the Cup
Football Fever
Between January 2025 and March 2026, more than 167,800 people were arrested by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in 11 American cities hosting World Cup matches, which begin in June.
The arrests are part of a broader immigration crackdown that human rights groups say involves widespread abuses.
Yet FIFA president Gianni Infantino last year awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to United States President Donald Trump.
Internationally, the United States has not been a proponent of peace under Trump, launching airstrikes against Venezuela and Iran as well as threatening to invade Greenland and retake control of the Panama Canal.
The current United States military build-up in the Middle East is said to be the largest since the Iraq War. Are these actions at home and abroad worthy of a peace prize?
The world, and even senior FIFA officials, think not.
The Guardian reports growing embarrassment within FIFA ranks over Donald Trump’s peace prize.
When communities come together, ICE melts
A belief that the World Cup should be a safe and secure event for all to enjoy prompted athletes, artists, lawyers, veterans and community groups to form the “No ICE in the Cup” campaign.
The campaign calls on FIFA, football’s international governing body, to ensure ICE agents are kept away from World Cup stadiums, fan zones and surrounding events.
Human Rights Watch is also urging FIFA to pressure the United States government to suspend immigration raids linked to World Cup events.
It argues the presence of ICE operations will stop migrant communities from safely participating in one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
These concerns are not unfounded. Migrant workers are central to major sporting events such as the World Cup.
They build stadiums, prepare venues, clean facilities, transport visitors, serve food and keep events running smoothly. Yet they often face exploitation, unsafe conditions and intimidation.
Unions warn FIFA
Unions including the global union representing food, hotel and catering workers, the IUF, have called on FIFA, host committees and employers affiliated with the World Cup to act responsibly.
Unions have demanded safe working conditions, freedom of association, trade union rights, protection from exploitation and trafficking, and working environments free from coercion and intimidation.
Unions also called on FIFA to demand that ICE and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) play no role at host stadiums, fan fests or other World Cup-related events.
While major sporting events promote unity and inclusion, unionists and educators should ask who feels safe and included at the World Cup?
As football fever builds, keep an eye out for the “No ICE in the Cup” campaign and thank the unions that are on the ground making sure the event remains a safe and inclusive space for everyone – fans, workers and athletes alike.
More information: noiceinthecup.us
Published in the June 2026 edition of Newsmonth.
