Rights groups condemn 2026 World Cup inclusivity pledge amid US visa restrictions
Coalition warns of human rights concerns ahead of September report, while FIFA and White House deflect responsibility for visa denials affecting fans from multiple nations.
The Sport & Rights Alliance has formally criticised FIFA for failing to deliver on its commitment to host the "most inclusive" World Cup in history, pointing to stringent US visa policies that excluded supporters from several nations and barred a Somali referee from officiating. The coalition, which intends to publish a detailed report on human rights issues in September, argued that the tournament’s governing body did not uphold its promise to "open its doors to the world" despite the expansion to 48 teams.
Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe, highlighted the practical difficulties faced by ticket holders from Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Uzbekistan in securing entry visas. Evain stated that the claim that the event would "unite the world" had largely failed, noting that many supporters from these countries were unable to attend despite holding tickets for the co-hosted tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The visa restrictions also impacted the on-field governance of the tournament, with Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan denied entry to the US despite holding a valid visa. The Trump administration cited Artan’s links to "suspected members of terror organisations" as the basis for the denial. FIFA President Gianni Infantino maintained that immigration decisions were the sole responsibility of national authorities, a stance echoed by US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who defended the denials following consultations with FIFA officials.
The impact of these policies was visible in the stands, where supporters from Senegal were reportedly grossly outnumbered due to the suspension of visa issuances for citizens of several countries. The Sport & Rights Alliance had previously raised concerns regarding the safety of journalists and fans amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, warning of a "distinctively dangerous climate of fear" surrounding the event.
While acknowledging positive elements such as Haiti’s first World Cup appearance in 52 years and Pride Match Day in Seattle, Minky Worden of Human Rights Watch emphasised the "dark side" of the host nation’s policies. FIFA and the White House did not respond to requests for comment regarding the criticisms, leaving the coalition to proceed with its planned September report detailing the human rights implications of the tournament’s governance.
