Ninety U.S.-based civil society groups have warned FIFA that it risks becoming a “public relations tool to whitewash the reputation of an increasingly authoritarian government”, in a joint letter that calls on FIFA to publicly urge the US government to reverse immigration policies and practices introduced by the Trump administration.

The letter describes how repressive executive orders and policy changes enacted since President Trump came to power in January 2025 pose a threat to individuals – particularly non-citizens – traveling to or residing in the United States, and is sent in the context of the ongoing Club World Cup and next year’s 2026 men’s World Cup.

The letter’s signatories include RFK Human Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, the NAACP, the Center for Victims of Torture,  the Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Amnesty International USA, and Human Rights Watch, eight supporters groups, and a host of trade union organisations and chapters representing workers in cities that will host matches at the 2026 men’s World Cup. FairSquare, a research and advocacy organisation focused on accountability in sport and human rights, and the Dignity 2026 coalition coordinated the joint letter.

The letter says that FIFA has failed to take account of the significant deterioration in the rights climate in the United States with reference to, among other things:

• the fact that non-U.S. nationals traveling to or from the United States are at risk of arbitrary denial of entry, detention, and/or deportation;
• the fact that individuals in the U.S. who express political opinions that diverge from those of the current administration are at risk of arbitrary detention and/or deportation;
• the fact that conditions in U.S. immigration detention facilities expose detainees to a serious risk of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment; and
• the U.S. government’s imposition of travel bans that restrict or prohibit travel to the U.S. from nationals of 19 countries.

The letter reads:

People of all nationalities should be able to travel to the United States without fear of arbitrary denial of entry, arbitrary detention, or deportation without due process; people in the United States should be able to exercise their right to freedom of expression without fear of arbitrary detention and deportation; and immigrant communities should not live in perpetual fear of CBP and ICE raids. If FIFA continues to stay silent, not only will millions be placed at risk, but the FIFA brand will also be used as a public relations tool to whitewash the reputation of an increasingly authoritarian government. 

It calls on FIFA to “publicly recognize the severity of the risks that U.S. government policies and practices pose to FIFA tournament attendees and migrant communities in the U.S. and publicly urge President Trump to reverse these policies and practices.”

Jamil Dakwar, director of the ACLU’s Human Rights Program, said: “The Trump administration has aggressively pursued a systematic anti-human rights campaign to target, detain, and disappear immigrants in communities across the U.S. – including in cities where the World Cup will take place. FIFA’s own policy states that they will leverage their business relationships to mitigate adverse human rights impacts – and it’s critical that they wield that influence to encourage the U.S. government to protect not only the rights of foreign visitors, but also the rights of the many immigrants who already live, work, and contribute to the communities selected to host them.”

Anthony Enriquez, VP of U.S. Advocacy and Litigation at RFK Human Rights, said: “FIFA’s role in convening people around the world in friendly sport is at stark odds with the United States’ practice of disappearing immigrants and visitors to cruel and degrading detention centers. FIFA must stand with the courageous human rights defenders who have publicly opposed the Trump administration’s scapegoating and abuse of immigrants.”

Jonathan Alingu, co-executive director of Central Florida Jobs With Justice, said: “We urge FIFA to address these serious concerns as quickly as possible. The United States is home to many residents from all backgrounds and many of them will be asked to contribute to make these games a success. The lack of action would ensure that ‘The Beautiful Game’ will only be enjoyed by a select few, because people will not be inclined to visit, and even less inclined to provide their labor.”

Nick McGeehan, co-director of FairSquare, said: “This is a hugely significant intervention from a broad swathe of U.S. civil society, which leaves FIFA in no doubt as to their profound concerns not just about the deterioration of the rights climate in the U.S. but the role that FIFA seems to be playing in that regard.”