Donald Trump increasingly rules autocratic in the United States. In view of illegal deportations, human rights organization warn: a visit to the World Cup would not be safe for some people.
The promise of Gianni Infantino Was as flowery as you are used to by the FIFA President: “We will ever create the best show on this planet”said Infantino when he was with US President in March Donald Trump talked about the 2026 World Cup. For this it is important “That everyone who travels to America feels safe and welcome”.
The reality looks different. In the first hundred days of his second term, Trump had massively reinforced the entry controls at the borders. Individual tourists from Canada, Great Britain or Germany were either not allowed to enter or were even taken in detention for weeks.
Has been: “It could be a disaster for the 2026 World Cup”
“It is not an inviting atmosphere for football fans from all over the world”says Minky From the human rights organization Human Rights Watch In conversation with the sports show. “Football may be a nice game, but the immigration policy of the Trump government is very ugly. And that could be a disaster for the 2026 World Cup.” Because in one year the USA will be the main host for the first World Cup with 48 teams, Canada and Mexico are there as a co-host.
US government with sometimes arbitrary politics towards immigrants
It has been pointed out that the US government acts hard and sometimes arbitrarily against people who have valid residence permits or have been living in the country for a long time. For example, a Turkish doctoral student with student visa was arrested on the open street and has been in custody since then.
Also in March, more than two hundred immigrants were deported to El Salvador, disregarding a court decision. In one case, the US government even spoke of an error in court – but Trump ignores a decision by the Supreme Court to enable the man’s return to the USA.
Has been: “FIFA sees itself heavy human rights Risks towards “
After the World Championships in Russia and Qatar, the question arises again whether human rights in the (main) host country are adequately protected. “The World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico should actually be a turn, a sign that World Championships will not be human rights horror shows”according to human rights activists. “But the Trump government and its malignant politics ensure that FIFA is again looking towards very severe human rights risks, and these risks affect women, children, LGBT people, fans and players.”
Minorities could be at risk in the USA during the World Cup
There is a human rights agreement for the 2026 World Cup that FIFA has completed with the venues. It lists groups that require special protection, including women, members of religious, sexual or ethnic minorities, people with disabilities or immigrants. But for these people it is not sure to travel to the USA, said. “I think all of these fans should have concerns about buying tickets for the World Cup next year.”
Already had similar Lisa Salza from Amnesty International expressed. “These people – at least when we take today’s scale – cannot feel safe“, said the human rights expert on Deutschlandfunk. “When we see all the measures of the US government, we have to find that there are considerable risks for fans, for athletes, for workers and also the local population. And FIFA does not make any institutions to request compliance with the framework agreement.”
FIFA President Infantino asked for action
Minky also became this impression, despite FIFA President Infantino’s repeated statements that all fans were welcome at the World Cup. “In contrast to the current approach of the US government, all insurance companies that the FIFA do are in contrast to the current procedure”according to the activist of Human Rights Watch. “A way for Gianni Infantino that everyone feels welcome would be to put pressure on his good friend Donald Trump so that he cancel this malignant anti-human rights policy”demanded.
She believes that the FIFA employees in Zurich “panicked” Look at the current developments because the measures of the US government could endanger the success of the most lucrative FIFA tournament. “We are on a very interesting path where FIFA’s ambitions to make a large amount of money, the repressive anti-international visitor policy of the Trump government comes across-and it will be exciting how it develops.”
For the DFB it is “too early” to answer questions
The tournaments in Russia and Qatar were a great success for FIFA despite the discussions about human rights. And at the moment, FIFA President Infantino leaves little to be left to do well with Trump. A plea for human rights would not match this strategy.
The German Football Confederation is currently still holding back. At a request from the sports show whether the DFB is planning to carry out a human rights risk analysis for the World Cup or whether DFB President Bernd Neuendorf the human rights situation in the USA at the next meeting of the FIFACouncils The DFB only says that the German national team has not yet started the World Cup qualification and it is not yet clear whether the national team will play in the USA. Therefore, it was too early to answer the questions in detail.