Human Rights Watch: US: ICE Arrest at FIFA Event Spotlights Dangers for World Cup
The arrest and return of an asylum seeker who took his children to the Club World Cup soccer tournament final on July 13, 2025, raises serious concerns about the safety of noncitizens attending the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Human Rights Watch said today.
In May, Human Rights Watch wrote to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the World Cup organizer, to express concerns about the risks and impact of US immigration policies on the 2026 World Cup and the 2025 US Club World Cup, recommending “immediate action” to address US policies that create risk and threaten FIFA’s ability to uphold its stated values of human rights, inclusion, and global participation.
FIFA responded on June 3, stating that it “expects … host countries take measures to ensure that any eligible persons who are involved in the Competition are able to enter the respective countries,” and “is actively working on this matter with relevant authorities.” FIFA also said it would engage with relevant authorities if it becomes aware of human rights concerns.
Human Rights Watch contends that the incident at the Club World Cup final illustrates the limitations of FIFA’s efforts to address the risks noncitizens face at FIFA events.
