World Cup 2026: Amnesty International launches petition to prevent 'festival of fear'

"The initiative calls for the protection of peaceful protests, an end to mass arrests and deportations, and safeguarding everyone from discrimination," stated Amnesty International, aiming to ensure a "World Cup for all."

This action comes just over two weeks before the tournament kicks off, running from 11 June to 19 July, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, featuring 48 national teams for the first time.

Under the slogan "World Cup 2026: No to fear, no to repression, no to excuses!", Amnesty International seeks to gather as many signatures as possible to pressure FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, as well as the governments of the host nations.

"The goal is to prevent attacks on rights and freedoms from turning a celebration of joy into a festival of fear," the organisation emphasised.

Amnesty International highlighted that every four years, "billions of people, even from vastly different cultures, speak the same language—that of football," and expressed hope that the event, "which unites people like no other," should uphold the values of "humanity."

The organisation argued that as the tournament approaches, authorities in the US, Mexico, and Canada "continue to target immigrants, restrict protests, and push already marginalised communities further into invisibility."

In late March, Amnesty International released the report "Humanity Must Win: Defending rights, fighting repression at the 2026 FIFA World Cup," outlining significant risks regarding human rights violations and their impact on fans, players, journalists, workers, and local communities in the three host countries.

The report noted that in 2025 alone, the Trump administration deported over 500,000 people—more than six times the number expected at the World Cup final—"while immigration agents have killed migrants, protesters, and observers."

In Mexico, Amnesty International warned that "the mobilisation of armed forces endangers peaceful protesters," while in Canada, "homeless individuals are being pushed further to the margins."

"In all three countries, LGBTQI+ fans face discrimination, violence, and harassment," the organisation added.

The petition stresses that fans and local communities should be able to celebrate football freely.

Although FIFA pledged a tournament where everyone feels safe, included, and free to exercise their rights, Amnesty International cautioned that "repression and division threaten to take centre stage."

"To fulfil FIFA's promise of a World Cup for all, the petition demands respect for peaceful protests, an end to mass arrests and deportations, and protection against discrimination. FIFA and host authorities must choose between fear and freedom, division and unity, cruelty and humanity," concluded Amnesty International.